BY DEAN GREENAWAY

A Japanese airline broke the German dominance to walk off as winners of the Moorings 22nd Interline Regatta.

The All Nippon team, skippered Hugh Carmichael claimed their first overall title, snapping Maersk's skipper H. P. Johnsen's three year winning streak in the process. Braathens placed second followed by Maersk in the competition open to commercial and freight employees.

Race director John Shirley said one could see differences in the competitive nature of the regatta from last year. "There are definitely some grudge matches left over from last year," Shirley noted. "The racing this year was extremely serious. The protest that came to the protest room was extremely serious, though not as long as last year, but you can tell the teams have become very competitive because of the prize which is a free Moorings charter is quite enticing."

The four day event featured five days of ocean and destination racing. "It was a mixed bag of weather from the start with heavy south east winds in the first race from Road Town to Anegada in what we sailors call 'gear bursting weather' but it turned out to be very nice for us," "The next two days were filled with moderate air and on Tuesday's final day, we had very light air and had to shorten the course. But it was and excellent regatta weather wise because it gave you the full range."

Shirley says the regatta is growing by leaps and bounds with the level of sailing. He said there are lots of repeat sailors many who have been coming for the last 22 years. "Sherry Duncan for example has participated in every regatta and she's one of the female skippers. She used to represent American, but her friends are a mixed bag of airline people. She seems to have an international crew."

Final results; Fleet Overall: Hugh Carmichael, All Nippon. 2. Torgeir Yggeseth, Braathens. 3. HP Johansen, Maersk. 4. Marco Gallo, Alitalia. 5. Morten Faurholt, Maersk. 6. Cameron Price, United Emirates. 7. George B, Braathens. 8. Jon Stevens, American Airlines. 9. Tom Emch, FedEx. 10. Paul Gillette, FedEx.