Peter Bromby slipped to third after the penultimate Bacardi Cup race in the USA yesterday but still stands a good chance of winning today.

Barring that, the worst that Bermuda's top sailor can finish is fourth.

Given his results in five out of six races thus far (6th, 9th, 4th, 9th and 3rd), he has the luxury of knowing that, should he finish way down in the 112-strong fleet in today's final race, he can use today's result as his throw-out and keep one of his ninth places which is currently his discard.

That would leave him with a maximum of 31 points and only three sailors are capable of scoring lower.

The jostling for honours assumed greater shape yesterday as competitors were afforded a throw-out after five races. This swept Star Class world champion Iain Percy of the UK to the pinnacle of the standings with nine points overall (1st, 4th, 3rd and 1st yesterday), having dropped his worst finish - 23rd in race three.

It also brought Miami native, Augie Diaz, up to second with 20 points as he dropped a 26 from race two.

Bromby, who had led the standings from race two until yesterday, is third on 22 points and Sweden's Fredrik Loof is fourth on 24. These four will battle it out for supremacy in today's final race.

"There are 112 boats here and we are sitting in third. Life is not all bad. The worst we can finish in this regatta is fourth so we're quite happy," said Bromby, speaking to The Royal Gazette after surveying the latest results.

Bermuda's recently-crowned Male Athlete of the Year noted that a variety of scenarios could play out in the waters off Coral Reef Yacht Club in Florida, leaving any of the top four a winner.

"You spend all week trying to give yourself a shot on the last day and that's what we've done. Now we've just got to have a good day tomorrow (today).

"He's (Percy) 13 points ahead of us but he's also got a big race. If he has a bad race and we have a good race or we get ahead of him and sail him to the back of the pack then we can still win.

"We've got a bit of a hole to overcome but it would be nice if things go our way. We'll just have to deal with whatever we get tomorrow. There are also two other boats in the picture," said Bromby candidly and wishing for some lighter air today.

The 38-year-old skipper, who is partnered by Martin Siese (crew), did not need to gamble yesterday as he had intended.

"We didn't take much of a gamble. We got to the first mark in fifth and we couldn't have asked for much more out of the first windward leg than what we got."

The Bermudians clawed their way up to third during the course of the race and were even closing in on second on the final run.

"All in all we're very happy. We're behind the current world champion. Anytime that's happening you can't be too upset, especially when there's still one race to go."