In addition to the Islanders who flocked to watch, hundreds of visitors had travelled over especially for the event, which is now one of the Island’s biggest tourist attractions.
Hotels have been full for months, with the event pumping tens of thousands of pounds into the economy and giving some hope after what has been reported as a lacklustre year for tourism.
In the morning, dark clouds had threatened to mar the proceedings, but by midday the skies were a perfect blue.
Organiser Mike Higgins said he could not have been happier, especially because of the early forecast.
‘It was just brilliant,’ he said.
‘This morning I could never have expected anything like this.
It has been fantastic.’
