Barbadian sailors sailed into winners' row in the recent 28th annual St Maarten Heineken-sponsored regatta held in the Dutch island.

This year it was the turn of the Johnson brothers Ralph and Paul, piloting Rapajam and Bruggadung II, to fly Barbados' colours beside several other Caribbean and international competitors.

In the non-spinnaker 1 class, Rapajam, captained and steered by Ralph and his crew of ten, emerged overall winners of this category. Last year's winner of the Spinnaker class 5, Paul and crew on board Bruggadung II, were unable to live up to their same high standards set last year and had to settle for sixth place overall in this class.

However they bounced back to take second place in the Budget Marine Commodore's Cup which was competed for seperately among the spinnaker class boats.

Spokesman and crew member for the Barbadian team, Senator Peter Gilkes, told WEEKEND SPORTS it was an excellent tournament which both teams totally enjoyed.

"Conditions were medium to heavy [wind] with fairly heavy seas, especially on the first day when we sailed around St Maarten and Tinta Marre off the north tip of St Maarten. They were 14 boats in the non- spinnaker 1 class, varying in length between 40 and a 100 feet . . . ," he said.

Crew members of Rapajam were Ralph, Gilkes (navigator), Isabell Gaigg, Jason Johnson, Dennis Richardson, Noddy Banfield, Peter Blackman, Eric Bicknesse, Norm Dowd, Ingmar Gaigg, Martin Gollner and Dr Roland Illigasch.

Bruggadung II was captained by Paul and Shane Atwell with Clint Brooks doing most of the driving. Others in the crew were Alex Mckenzie, Peter Thompson, Paul Richardson and Darren.

This is the fifth successive year Barbados have been represented at the regatta, and already there are plans to defend the title at next year's event.