HAMPSHIRE skipper Leigh McMillan was gracious in defeat as he was denied his third Extreme Sailing Series title in a thrilling finale.

McMillan, skipper of The Wave Muscat, was in the running to scoop the top prize for the third year running as the teams went into the last round of racing in Sydney.

But the Southampton sailor's team were pipped to first by Swiss arch rivals Alinghi at the last event of the tour in Sydney, ending their hopes of a historic hat-trick of wins.

The defeat wraps up a year of tense battle between the two teams.

McMillan said: “It is frustrating not to win the last event but it was a battle like it has been all year.

“Alinghi have been sailing really well and they got the better of us so many congratulations to them.

“To finish second in this event and overall is still a good result and it was a fantastic team effort from our guys but there are areas where we could have been better so we have some work to do.

“Sydney was a fantastic location but the two home wins in Cardiff and Muscat were definitely the highlight of the year for us.”

McMillan, a former Olympian, also praised his crew of Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Nasser Al Mashari, Kinley Fowler and Ed Smyth.

He added: “The team really gelled well together and did a great job.”

The season finale also saw disappointment for Ben Ainslie's crew, who went into the event in touching distance of third place overall.

But a collision early in the racing hampered Ainslie's crew and they had to settle for a fifth place finish on the tour.

The 2015 Extreme Sailing Series begins in Singapore in February.