Contessa nail biter

Winner decided within 400m of final line reports madforsailing's John Greenland

The winner of the Sigma 38 fleet had sewen up their Skandia Life Cowes Week regatta with a day to spare, while it took until the last 400m in the final race of the series to decide this year's winner of the Contessa 32 class.

A heated battle has been fought throughout the week between Blanco, last year's winner, and John Holloway's South Haze. The two boats started today's race on equal points. With an equal number of wins and second places it all came down to the highest placed finisher of the day. South Haze crossed the line 50 seconds ahead of Blanco to take the race and the event: "It's great racing out there, I never realised the Contessa 32 fleet was so competitive. If you don't take wind readings or thoroughly plot your course then you have no chance," commented Dan Smith from South Haze.

Starting well, the South Haze team held a clear lead for the first hour in the race. However, a 40 degree shift and a drop in the breeze opened them up to an assault from behind. They helplessly looked on as Blanco passed them before turning on to the downwind slalom to the finish. Determined not to end up as runners-up for the second year in a row, the South Haze crew pushed hard: "We just sailed deeper whenever we could. We slowly clawed away at them [ Blanco], just managing to get on their inside at Eygpt Point," commented helmsman Rory Paton. "Once we were passed them we simply extended our lead."

It is now a waiting game for the South Haze crew to see whether their consistent series is enough to place them on top of the Black group. The points are close, with the Sigma 38 Polyphagus counting an incredible five wins. If the two boats end up with an equal number of wins then the group victory will go to the Sigma 38 team as their are a greater number of competitors in the Sigma 38 class.

Stephen Porter's Polyphagus took control of the week from day one. This is their second major coup on the Sigma 38 circuit as they were also winners of the nationals held earlier this year in St. Malo. Winning by a clear 26 points in St Malo it was obvious they were going to be a difficult boat to beat this year.