American Bill Widnall celebrated his 30th year of sailing in Bermuda by taking the first trophy of International Race Week yesterday.

But the International One Design class skipper had one of his eagle-eyed crew members to thank for helping him capture the Bermuda Race Week Championship A as weather conditions changed regularly enough for competitors to experience all four seasons in one day.

Widnall, who finished first in yesterday's fifth and final race of the opening series to see off the challenge of compatriot James Bishop and Scotland's Brian Young, admitted to a key moment when things could have fallen apart.

The personable Widnall said: "We'd started off under clear skies but we could have fallen out of the lead when the cold front came through.

"One of my crew members, Danielle Ames, said, `Look at that' and drew my attention to it off Somerset and we were able to work our way over to the right.'' It was a move made just in the nick of time. The boat in second place, skippered by Eric Shou in the absence of Norwegian Jan Petter-Roed -- released after a night in hospital for investigation of chest pains -- had also anticipated the change in the weather but was a split second behind Widnall in altering course.

From then on Widnall and his crew hung on to the lead to claim the title. But the silver-haired former IOD world champion admitted: "It was very close and Eric almost caught us.'' And he added: "The series was tightly fought. We needed to make up some ground on Jim Bishop because he had a throw-out to take into consideration.'' Bishop, as it happened, had a poor race -- "we sailed terribly'' was his own evaluation of yesterday morning's events -- finishing eighth. However, the rules allow for the discarding of the worst performance after the fifth race and that was the one to go.

But a seventh in the third race of the series left him trailing in third place overall, four points behind Widnall. Young, meanwhile, finished third in the final race for a second position overall. Used to sailing on the River Clyde in his homeland he would have perhaps appreciated the abrupt change in conditions more than anyone.

Bishop had better fortune as the day wore on, winning the first race of the second series, the Norwegian Series B. Eric Shou had to settle for the runners-up spot for the second time in the day, but Widnall and Young were back in sixth and seventh respectively.

Added Widnall: "We didn't sail so well. But it was close at the finish line with the boat that came in fifth.'' He wouldn't rule out his chances of taking the second series as well but he was appreciative of the standards reached by his rivals.

"Everyone's going to be trying,'' said the man who first raced in Island waters in 1968, "and we'll give it our best shot. But the racing down here is always very competitive.'' Meanwhile, as the temperature was dropping, the competition in the Etchells fleet was warming up.

Last year's champion Robert Bell, from Florida, starred, winning both yesterday's races. But as Bell, who picked up the title despite not achieving a first in any of last year's races will know, it is consistency that is the key.

And local Andreas Lewin is showing that, his four races having brought him two thirds, a fourth and a third. England's Graham Bailey suffered an eighth in one race yesterday, but when he discards that as his worst finish, he will effectively take the lead.

"At least I can now say I've won a race in Bermuda,'' joked Bell, before going on to pay tribute to Bermudian Peter Bromby who is once again crewing for the title holder. "His local knowledge helps tremendously. There's no way I could make the calls that he makes.'' In the J-24 fleet, Michael Mountford took a four and a half point lead over fellow Canadian Thomas Hakansson, followed by American Jim Keesling after six races.

The smaller dinghy classes, due to race off Spanish Point, called off competition because of the poor weather. They have a spare day on Friday to make up the races lost.

Today, however, is a lay day for all fleets with competition resuming tomorrow.

INSIDER SAILING -- Bermudian Peter Bromby (centre) has been lending his experience and local knowledge to last year's Etchells champion Robert Bell, from Florida. Bell won two races yesterday in his bid to retain his crown at International Race Week.