Peter Bromby and his crew wrote their names into sailing history twice yesterday as they secured a semi-final berth in the Bermuda Gold Cup.

Bromby became the first Bermudian sailor to advance to the last four since the event became part of the Swedish Match Tour calendar. He beat Sweden's Mikael Lindqvist 3-1 after losing the first race in Hamilton Harbour.

In addition, one of Bromby's crew members - Leatrice Roman (on bow) - created some personal history, becoming the first woman to be involved in the competition's semi-final.

As has often happened in the past, all the Island's hopes now rest on Bromby's shoulders as a gutsy Paula Lewin succumbed 3-1 to Denmark's Jes Gram-Hansen, the world's number two match racer.

“I am quite proud of my team. It's the first time under this format that we (Bermuda) have made it to the semi-finals. It's a testament to the three people I have with me. I am proud of the job they have done and how far they have come in the last year. Hopefully, we will go right through to Sunday (tomorrow),” said 38-year-old Bromby.

Loud cheers and the simultaneous blasts of horns from nearby boats greeted Bermuda's top sailor as he crossed the finish with his crew of Roman, Kees Van Beelen (trimming the mainsail) and Christian Luthi (jib and spinnaker).

In one of the afternoon's most brilliant performances, the local skipper showed his expertise by carrying a penalty turn down to the wire in race three. Somehow - with Lindqvist bearing down on him - at the finish line, Bromby completed his turn and crossed the line just in time.

“I always say ‘Don't do a penalty until the opportunity bites you in the tail'. Fortunately it came good,” said Bromby on his decision to leave the penalty until the end.

Meanwhile, Roman was thrilled with her achievement and hopes to take it a step further today when Bromby's team take on Gram-Hansen in the semi-finals.

“I am quite honoured. I'm proud to be part of Peter's team and I love match racing. I hope the winds go with us and we can keep the Bermuda flag flying,” said the 45-year-old.

Lewin, who won the women's qualifier and ousted a seeded skipper before bowing out, said it was “great” to take a race off the world's number two match racer. The contest could have been closer had she not made “two slight mistakes” in her first two races versus Gram-Hansen, she noted.

“We felt we could do well but it didn't work out. He sailed well and didn't give us any opportunity to pass once he got ahead,” said the 31-year-old.

Commenting on facing two Bermudian skippers in succession, Gram-Hansen remarked jovially “it seems we are stuck with the Bermudians”, adding that he has tremendous respect for Bromby's talent, especially on his home waters.

Whether he goes into the final or not, the 31-year-old already has reason to celebrate as his semi-final berth ensures he remains atop the Swedish Match Tour leaderboard.

The other two quarter-final match-ups saw Jesper Radich of Denmark and Karol Jablonski of Poland dismiss Finnish sailor Steffan Lindberg and Swede Mattias Rahm respectively, both by 3-0 margins.

This now pits the two good friends against each other for the right to compete in tomorrow's final.

“Karol and I have a really good relationship. We talk a lot about match racing. He teaches me some things and I teach him some things. He has been winning more races than I have recently but we have great races when we meet and I think tomorrow (today) will be the same,” said 27-year-old Radich.

Jablonski, 40, is anticipating their clash just as much, predicting a “very tough” semi-final and vowing he and Radich will be friends regardless of the outcome.

Asked if he would use some of Radich's tips against him today, the current match-racing world championship laughed and quipped: “I have used them already.”