Kelsey Durham mastered the blustery conditions to grab the early lead of the Bermuda Keelboat Regatta in the Great Sound yesterday.

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club helmsman and his fellow team-mates coped best in the trying conditions as they posted a first and second in the two races contested to carve out a one-point advantage at the top of the standings.

“It was challenging conditions, as you can imagine; very windy” Durham told The Royal Gazette. “We had really good speed today.”

Competing alongside Durham in the International One Design class are Michael Richold, Heath Foggo, Roger Beach and Andrew Lake.

“We had some issues with our sails in the second race,” Durham added. “But my crew was really good in getting everything sorted and fixed, so we didn’t lose too much pace.”

In second is Durham’s clubmate, Bill McNiven, followed by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club helmsman and national IOD champion Joshua Greenslade, a further three points adrift of the lead.

In fourth is defending champion Blythe Walker, also of the RBYC, who pipped McNiven for the title on a tie-break after the pair finished tied at last year’s event that also featured the J105 class.

American Buddy Clarke leads the overseas contingent and is fifth overall.

The Pass Christian Yacht Club helmsman is competing for the Armada Jug, which is the oldest trophy in the RBYC’s trophy case and is reputed to have been taken from a sunken Spanish Galleon in 1588.

It was purchased by Governor General Sir Dennis Bernard, who was an avid sailor, and donated for racing in the local IOD Class in 1949.

Today’s racing remains doubtful because of strong gales.

“It is unlikely they will race because of severe windy conditions but we will be back in the Great Sound on Sunday to complete the regatta,” IOD class president Richard Thompson said. “The weather is looking ideal for Sunday.”

The IODs are the only class being represented because the J105 fleet are not involved this time around as the regatta concludes on Sunday.