Bermuda's Olympic skipper Peter Bromby warmed up for this week's Kiel Sailing Championships in Germany in fine style over the weekend.

Accompanied onboard by Christian Luthi and Kees Van Beelen, Bromby swept seven of the day's eight races in Hamilton harbour to capture the annual Etchells Match Racing series. Bromby did not sail in the final race.

Saturday's win automatically qualified Bromby and crew into September's Bacardi Match Racing Nationals, although as defending champion he was already assured a spot in the Fall regatta.

The two top finishing boats in the Bacardi Nationals are awarded berths in the unseeded round of the prestigious King Edward VII Gold Cup match racing series in October, traditionally contested by some of the world's elite skippers.

Bromby led every race by the first weather marker and did not pick up any penalties during Saturday's race.

Blythe Walker finished second behind Bromby while Andreas Lewin took third place honours.

However, while it was all smooth sailing for Bromby, the same could not be said for the Island's other Olympic hopeful, Paula Lewin. Back on the Island for a brief stay, Lewin endured a disappointing regatta by her own high standards.

The Female Athlete of the Year incurred several penalties to finish with a record of 4-3 which placed her in fourth.

Veteran sailor Tim Patton finished fifth followed by Hughie Watlington in sixth, with Rikki Hornet and Malcolm Graham placing seventh and eighth respectively.

Bromby, Paula Lewin and young Zander Kirkland are all currently competing overseas in Germany this week in the Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) which has attracted over 60,000 participants from 49 nations.

Due to the volume and number of classes competing in what has become Germany's largest dinghy and keelboat combined regatta, the event has, for a number of years, been split into three Olympic classes. Kiel Week provides skippers a final opportunity to iron out any kinks prior to September's ISAF World Sailing Championships in Cadiz.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the local fleet competing in the Marion to Bermuda Race have all completed the 645 mile journey.

Unofficially, Class C-2 entry Lullaby currently holds onto first place in her division after crossing the finish line at 10.45 p.m. on Tuesday night. Another local class C-2 boat Bermuda Oyster is currently unofficially listed as fourth.

Others to complete the gruelling ocean crossing on Tuesday were Perseverance, which crossed the finish at 8.07 p.m. and Zephyr at 7.43 p.m..

Local skipper Robert Mulderig seized line honours onboard Starr Trail late on Monday afternoon.

"Everything thus far has been textbook.

"Most of the boats arrived on Wednesday and so we couldn't be more pleased," said race spokesman Richard Healy from the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club yesterday.

"All but two boats have yet to finish but we expect them to show up later today (yesterday). I don't think that anyone encountered any difficulty.

"The Gulf Stream seemed to be moderate at worst but overall it was matter of heading for Bermuda and letting it fly."