The cliché is much tried yet all too true when applied to Stevie Dickinson and the Long Distance Comet Race in the manner “the more things change, the more they stay the same”.

So much so is the case of Dickinson winning the annual spectacle that one might be excused in believing that his is the only name engraved upon the Edward Cross Trophy.

Indeed, it appears a record 17 times as of yesterday as the East End Mini Yacht Club sailor again bested the fleet that made the trip from St George’s to Somerset.

Such has been the dominance of Dickinson in the class that the only records he chases are his own, each outing adding to a legend unlikely to be eclipsed.

Yesterday witnessed an all too familiar scene materialise, with Dickinson getting a solid start, briefly trailing Heath Foggo, as there was a bit of congestion exiting Town Cut, but once beyond blazing a trail west and truly leaving all in his wake, completing the course in 2hr 18min 31sec.

“When we entered Town Cut I was leading the race,” Dickinson said. “I had a good start, stayed a little high of everybody and was taking the breeze that I had and was just falling down on the fleet. But when we got inside the channel, a lot of stuff started happening because there was no breeze.

“My plan was to go deep on the right-hand side of the channel, but there was a lot of boats there, so I had to point up a little bit to get some wind and the boats behind me bore down on my back.

“Heath just went straight along through as if he had a motor, but I was confident of catching him as I had good speed, good power and the first tack we made we were leading the race just as we went across Builder’s Bay.”

Once ahead, it was curtains for the fleet as Dickinson and crew Gerrick Farquharson worked the shifts to perfection along North Shore, maintaining good speed, with only an overexuberant spectator fleet serving to slow the charge to the finish.

“It only got hairy up by Dockyard when all the spectator fleet started to come around and the wind would leave you and the big waves knocked you back and forth, but other than that it was a nice race,” Dickinson said.

“When I went around Catherine’s Point, I told myself if you sail this boat, then you’ve got it without a problem.”

Farquharson, a college student from Bahamas, noted that the victory as the highlight of his summer vacation and was grateful to continue his tutelage under Dickinson.

“This race makes my summer, it’s the highlight of my summer,” Farquharson said. “I travel here especially for this race and it’s a great honour sailing with the best.

“It’s all an experience and I’m learning a lot from Stevie and I’m looking forward to learning a lot more from him.”

Rapidly becoming the ‘“Jay Donawa” of sailing’s premier race, Scott Fox again could manage only second, he and late recruit as crew Wesley Tucker enduring an unplanned “dip” along North Shore, but somehow righting the ship without losing position.

In fact, the day started inauspiciously for Fox, who was late to the line because he failed to properly assess the start. Still he was able to pick his way to fourth near Fort St Catherine and worked the shoreline along North Shore to pick off the rest — all except Dickinson.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to win this race, this is my third second behind either Rudy [Bailey] or Stevie,” Fox said.

“Once Stevie gets clear, he’s so fast and experienced and hard to catch.

“It’s a frustrating thing. I got close to him for a little while, but getting close and beating him is two different things.”

Foggo managed third place after his great start, giving East End Mini Yacht Club a sweep of the podium positions.