Bill McNiven came from behind to clinch a first Bermuda Keelboat Regatta title in the Great Sound on Sunday.

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club helmsman and his crew overcame a one-point deficit heading into the final day of the event to go and claim honours.

McNiven’s team was a model of consistency as they posted four top three finishes, including two firsts, in the final five races to finish two-points clear of Royal Bermuda Yacht Club rival and defending champion Blythe Walker.

The triumph was particularly sweet for McNiven having been edged out by Walker for the title on a tie-break after the pair finished tied at last year’s event.

“It was a great event and it’s always fun to sail against the best Bermuda teams, Blythe Walker, Joshua Greenslade, Kelsy Durham and Hubert Watlington,” an elated McNiven told The Royal Gazette. “Also having visiting teams down makes the regatta even better.”

McNiven and colleagues Martin Siese, Andrew Butterworth and Hamish McNiven coped best in variable conditions which put the sailors’ skills to the test.

“The conditions were challenging on Friday and really nice on Sunday,” McNiven added.

“My starts were not great but Martin Siese’s tactical wizardry got us back into the mix. Of course we also benefited from a couple of lucky shifts.

“All in all a great experience and finally I really enjoyed sailing with our team. They made it fun.”

Overnight leader and McNiven’s RHADC stablemate, Kelsey Durham, finished in third a farther four- points adrift of the winners.

“Sunday’s conditions were perfect for racing and the final result was close between the top 3 Bermudian skippers as you can see,” International One Design class president Richard Thompson said.

Gibson Island Yacht Club helmsman, Courtenay Jenkins, secured the Armada Jug after finishing first among the four teams representing the United States and fifth overall in the ten-boat racing fleet.

The showpiece 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.

The IODs were the only class being represented this year as the J105 fleet were not involved this time around.