Sony.

Bromby, generally considered Bermuda's top sailor, and a veteran crew teamed up to trounce six other skippers, including Lewin in yesterday's final of the National Match Racing Sailing Championships.

And afterwards he conceded that hours of watching videotapes of himself and others in action made the difference in the weekend battle of J-24s in Hamilton Harbour.

Like a National Football League team studying practice films, Bromby said he learned last year during the build-up towards the Olympics the value of picking up tricks and tactics through his VCR.

"The more we worked through the Olympic campaign the more we realised that practice sessions, like the NFL, were four days and the rest of the time was spent watching video footage,'' said Bromby, who, along with Lee White, competed in the Star class competition in Atlanta.

In this case, the footage was from old J-24 regattas, including the 1995 Pan-Am Games. The crew were different, of course, "but it's still four positions in the boat, regardless of who it is.'' Bromby has White back on board, this time joined by Martin Siese and Steve King, all veterans who grew up together in Somerset and, in the words of Lewin, "out-finessed the rest of us.'' The quartet went a perfect 13-0 through the weekend, breezing 7-0 in the round-robin, then sweeping Glen Astwood in the semi-finals and Lewin in the final, both best-of-five affairs.

"To beat Peter is tough,'' said Lewin.

But Bromby, the defending champion deflected praise on to his crew. "I only do one job on the boat,'' he said. "The other guys don't get the recognition they deserve.'' With winds of up to 20 knots, Lewin described conditions as "perfect'' but acknowledged the strength and weight of Bromby's boat might have been a little tough to overcome. Still, by advancing to the Bermuda Gold Cup professional regatta in October, she felt she made a statement for her gender.

"I think what this says is that anybody, man or woman, can do it,'' said Lewin, whose crew consisted of two women -- regulars Peta Lewin and Leatrice Roman -- and one man, Gary Roman.

"Hopefully we set a good example for female sailors, not only worldwide but also locally.'' Male or female, Lewin and her crew are just plain good, Bromby said.

"When we do sparring before a regatta, we spar with her.'' Bromby's Team Shell had already secured sponsorship into the Gold Cup, springing open a spot for a third Bermudian, Adam Barboza, who defeated Astwood in the consolation final yesterday (Gosling's pay the way for two entries in the $60,000 event).

All three have previously competed in the Gold Cup, which uses IOD boats, in the past; indeed Bromby was seeded eighth a year ago.

Astwood was last year's Black Seal runner-up, while Barboza was third and Lewin fourth. This time, Astwood had the misfortune of being picked to face Bromby in the semi-finals while Lewin was able avenge her round-robin loss to Barboza.

The three each finished with five wins in seven races, Astwood losing to Lewin but beating Barboza. Andreas Lewin, Jonathan Corless, Richard Hornett and Jordy Walker also competed.

While Bromby begins practice on IODs for the Gold Cup, he's also watching development within the world sailing body, which last year voted out Star class boats from the Olympics. Now there's a chance they could get a second life -- "They realise they made a mistake,'' he said -- although he maintains he's "unsure'' of his Olympic future.

CREW-SING ALONG -- Veteran Peter Bromby (far left) and his top-flight crew were unbeatable during the National Match Racing Championships on the weekend.