Princess Royal Sailing Club conducted its annual Cock of the Harbour race on Saturday — the final event of the normal sailing season.

Ten yachts from three different fleets competed for the Cock of the Harbour trophy in ideal weather except for the gloomy sky caused by smoke from the Walpole bushfire.

A steady westerly around the 15-knot mark at the start ensured all boats got away smartly.

The limit boat was Mark Paynter’s Saxon, and the scratch boat was Geoff Oliver’s Excitabull.

Rob Cridge in Noel Robins, Neil Worrell in Zuri, Stephen Lee in Flasheart, Chris Oldham in Joker, Mark McRae in Sicarius, Ben Gray in Flying Flounder, Wayne North in Frequent Flyer, Aileen Lucas in Crazy, and Simon Lucas in FForever Young started in between those two.

All yachts were moving well, and before long the four Flying Fifteens had filled the first four places and posed a big threat to the others in the fleet.

Aileen Lucas had Crazy out in front, and with club commodore Harold Keay as crew, was looking for the goods.

Wayne North was just behind in Frequent Flyer, and then lightning-fast Excitabull made its presence felt, easily catching most of the fleet in a devastating display.

Excitabull was now in second place, and putting huge pressure on the much smaller Crazy.

However, Aileen Lucas kept her cool and the lead to win the trophy in an outstanding effort.

Geoff Oliver almost stole the show but missed out narrowly to take second place and fastest time in a great challenge.

Third place went to Wayne North in Frequent Flyer.

Joker, sailed by Chris Oldham, was the best of division two, beating his rival Stephen Lee in Flasheart.

Sailing in the winter series begins on May 11 with a 1.30pm start.