COWES WEEK, THE UNITED KINGDOM'S PREMIER YACHT REGATTA, REACHED ITS CLIMAX TODAY (SATURDAY) WITH THE START OF THE FINAL AND LONGEST RACE, THE 605-MILE (968-KM) FASTNET RACE FROM COWES TO PLYMOUTH VIA THE FASTNET ROCK OFF SOUTHERN IRELAND, A VOYAGE TAKING SEVERAL DAYS.

THE FASTNET IS THE LAST OF FOUR RACES SCORING TOWARDS THE ADMIRAL'S CUP, FOR WHICH ELEVEN COUNTRIES HAVE ENTERED TEAMS OF THREE YACHTS.

WHEN THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON CANNON FIRED THE STARTING SIGNAL AT 9 A.M. A RECORD 188 YACHTS WERE MASSED FOR THE ARDUOUS RACE.

AUSTRALIA'S THREE-BOAT TEAM STARTED THE RACE WITH 317 POINTS EARNED FROM LAST WEEKEND'S 24C-MILE CHANNEL RACE AND THE TWO SUBSEQUENT INSHORE RACES, PUTTING THEM 44 POINTS AHEAD OF BRITAIN IN SECOND PLACE.

THOUGH THE AUSTRALIANS SEEMED SET TO RETAIN THE ADMIRAL'S CUP, AN UPSET WAS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION, SINCE ALL THREE TEAM MEMBERS MUST FINISH WELL AND THIS FINAL RACE SCORES 93 POINTS FOR THE FIRST TEAM HOME.

ONE ENTRY WHICH ATTRACTED INTEREST WAS A NEW YACHT, MORNING CLOUD OWNED AND SAILED BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER EDWARD HEATH.