With all yachts accounted for in the Antigua Bermuda Race, Giles Redpath’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra, of Britain, skippered by Andy Liss, has posted the best corrected time under IRC, winning the Warrior Trophy.

In a dramatic finish for second place, Peter Grueterich’s xP-44 Xpatriate, of the United States, corrected out to take runner-up by just 21 minutes after over five days of ocean racing.

Kevin McLaughlin’s x-55 Rye, of the US, was third. Les Crane, the Antigua Bermuda Race chairman, was dockside at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to welcome finishing yachts.

“Only one member of the crew was over 25, and we came together after Antigua Sailing Week,” Andy Liss, the Pata Negra’s skipper, said.

“Some of the crew will help me deliver Pata Negra to Newport for the Transatlantic Race, and others will be sailing boats across the Atlantic in the ARC, and private deliveries.

“The crew for this race are a great bunch, and we have become firm friends.

“We are delighted to continue the winning tradition for Pata Negra.”

Meanwhile, Xpatriate’s Peter Grueterich reflected on the effort of his team-mates throughout the race.

“Everybody has been just awesome on the race; it’s a small boat for six days on the water, but we just get along great; we had fun all the way,” he said. “I knew it was very, very tight between us and Rye, and it was an excruciating finish, as it seemed so long get there.

“When we heard from Les Crane that we had got second, I was completely floored. There was an outburst of joy from the whole crew.

“This has been an incredible race, with great organisation.

“The whole idea of a race to finish the Caribbean season is just perfect.”

McLaughlin could do nothing but laugh when he heard that Xpatriate had beaten them to second place by just 21 minutes.

“After five days and nights at sea, to be that close is just amazing,” he said.

“Third is great for us but, holy smoke, that’s close. With just three crew, we did three hours on, three hours in the cockpit and three hours rest.

“It was a nice race, but also a lot of challenges. Friday night was intense; we had a massive squall just after dark, torrential rain with the wind all over the place hitting 30 knots.

“The last 24 hours, we did really well, especially the last night was fast sailing.

“This has been a great race for us and we are so happy to be in Bermuda.”

Pata Negra was also the winner of the CSA Cruising Class, and Xpatriate second.

Third was Morgen Watson and Meg Reilly’s Pogo 12.50 Hermes, of Canada.