because he was a friend of former Tourism Minister Mr. DeForest (Shorty) Trimingham, was fined $450 in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Andrew Vare, 28, assaulted officers after they attempted to stop him from entering a restricted area at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on Thursday.

"I am a guest of DeForest Trimingham and you're insignificant,'' the US sailor reportedly told the officers. "You can't touch me.'' Vare, who is residing at the Palm Reef Hotel in Paget while on the Island, admitted assaulting the officers and violently resisting arrest.

Sgt. Wilbert McLean, prosecuting, said the officers were hired by the Yacht Club and told to prevent guests from entering a restricted area.

Around 12.10 a.m., after Vare had ignored a warning by a female Police officer not to enter the area, he was followed by a male officer to a washroom.

When Vare came out, the officer told him he was not allowed in the area and warned him to listen to Police in the future.

The officer said Vare then "very arrogantly'' said he was a guest of Mr.

Trimingham and pushed past him. He made his way down the stairs, pushing the female officer into a wall.

When informed he would be arrested, Vare repeated that he was a guest of Mr.

Trimingham and pushed the male officer away.

As the officers attempted to restrain him, Vare became violent and a struggle ensued.

Sgt. McLean said Vare was eventually restrained with the assistance of staff at the club but during the struggle some damage was caused.

The officers said that Vare's breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

Yesterday, the captain of the yacht on which Vare was sailing apologised for his crew member's behaviour.

He explained that alcohol had influenced Vare and said the officers were in plain clothes, leading Vare to believe they were only sailors helping out a security guard.

And he said it was his understanding that Vare's actions were in self-defence after the officer placed him in a headlock in the bathroom.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said he had taken all that was said into account but "this was clearly caused by you having too much to drink''.

A Raceweek public relations officer at the Yacht Club said later a race committee would determine if any penalty would be taken against Vare because of his actions.

"They'll have a race jury hearing,'' he said. "The captain is responsible for the condition of the crew. They will listen to the stories and then decide. It may be a penalty for the vessel, it's up to the jury.''