East winds, fog and shifting breezes challenged the best sailors in last week's 82nd Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta. More than 200 sailboats competed in the one-design sailboat race that ran from Thursday through Saturday.

Some of the nation's best sailors gathered for a long weekend in Edgartown to compete for prizes in the Shields Nationals. The three days of racing began on Thursday. Twenty-nine boats with plenty of sailors came from all over the East Coast and from as far away as Illinois and California.

The boats raced in all kinds of weather, from high winds to light air. The boats have open cockpits and most of the sailors wore wet weather gear.

A fleet of 11 of the world's most famous sailboats converged on Edgartown harbor this weekend for the annual 12-Metre regatta.

The shed behind the Tisbury Marketplace was built to house the construction of Rebecca back in 1997. The shed was just big enough to accommodate the schooner as her builders laid the keel, sawed out the frames and installed the bowsprit and boomkin that would help fasten her spars and rigging to hull and deck.

It took seven hours and 43 minutes for the fastest sailboat to complete the 'Round the Island race on Saturday. Sforzando, captained by Blair Brown of the New Bedford Yacht Club, was the first to cross the finish in the Edgartown outer harbor at 3:43 p.m. The speedy Taylor 44's lap around the Island typified the pace of most sailing in the 80th annual Edgartown Yacht Club event.

Gray skies and sprightly winds launched the 80th annual Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta yesterday. A record number of 420 class sailboats turned out for the 10 a.m. start. At least 50 of these one-design sailboats crossed the line. William Roman, manager of the yacht club, said this year's regatta is clearly the year of the one-design sailboat, with record participation by young people.