Top local sailor Peter Bromby yesterday moved closer to getting his hands on the Bacardi Cup for the second time.

Another outstanding performance in the fourth race kept him at the top of the standings in Florida, USA, with just two races left.

The Star-Class competitor finished ninth out of 112 boats to lead the regatta with 28 points overall. However, the 38-year-old must still sail well today and tomorrow as world champion Iain Percy of the UK is in hot pursuit on 31 points, moving up to second from third overnight.

Americans Mark Reynolds and George Szabo are tied for third on 41 points.

"Again we were pleased with our speed. We are going fast. We were 13th at the first mark. We lost a couple boats on the first run but we gained them back and we were very fast on the second beat," he said, outlining his fourth race for The Royal Gazette.

Noting that after today competitors will be able to throw out a race, the ACE-sponsored Male Athlete of the Year said this allows him and crew, Martin Siese, "to gamble a bit".

"We've got two more races and we have the lowest drop right now so we can afford to take some chances in the next two races because we have been quite consistent so far. Iain Percy, on the other hand, is carrying a drop of 23 (his worst finish thus far).

"We have a nine so we'll be looking to gamble and hopefully get some good results - if not we'll spend our drop," explained the 2001 Bacardi Cup winner.