With three races remaining, Bermuda's Peter Bromby is still in the hunt for the 2003 Spa Regatta Championship in Medemblick, Netherlands.

The Bermudian Olympic sailor rebounded from a disappointing 17th finish during yesterday's third race to place fifth in the fourth race to remain within striking distance of leader, Britain's Iain Percy.

Percy along with crew Steve Mitchell are the regatta's defending champions and current world number ones in the Star Class. Percy currently has nine points to second-placed Bromby's 13.

The Briton recorded two fourth place finishes to maintain a four point lead over Bromby while American Mark Reynolds remains in third position with 15 points.

Bromby is currently competing in a tough class comprised of 59 boats that boasts many of the world's the elite Star Class sailors.

Bermuda's Paula Lewin, also competing in the Spa Regatta, managed to hold onto eighth spot yesterday.

Lewin's performances among the Yngling fleet were similar to Bromby's. The 2002 Female Athlete of the Year bounced back from a 15th place finish during yesterday's opening race to place third in the fourth race.

The Bermudian currently has 22 points and is some 18 points adrift of leader Shirley Robertson of Britain.

Janneke Hin of the Netherlands remained in second position with 12 points and American Carol Cronin in third with 13 points.

However, with four races remaining, Lewin still has time to make inroads on the leaders.

Meanwhile, the finish to the Charleston to Bermuda ocean race promises to be close with the first entry now predicted to reach the Island early today.

At last report yesterday, Rex Conn's Alacrity had managed to overhaul Teddy Turner's Troika for the lead. Alacrity was reported to be some 123 miles west of the Island - one mile ahead of Troika which was some 124 miles also west of Bermuda.

It remained anybody's guess which boat would be first across the finish line early today off St.David's Head.

Neal Peterson's No Barriers currently lies in third position and was last reported to be some 228 miles from the finish.

Yesterday's action on the high seas saw the casualty list among the fleet increase with three entries, Mark Harler's Rio Luna, Pierre Manigault's Twilight and Arnold Mintz's Victory all withdrawing from the biennial race. The trio of boats were reported to be motoring their way to Bermuda.

It was also confirmed yesterday that Bob Thompson's Kaufman 46, Kiva, along with Mike Finn's J-160, Kativa, had both re-established radio contact with Charleston race officials and were still competing.

A total of 16 boats made it to last Saturday's start in Charleston Harbour, South Carolina. Since then nine boats have abandoned the race.

"Their (boats) noses are right into the wind and they are tacking all the way," reported race communications officer, Randi Olsen from Charleston yesterday.

"Conditions are about six to 12 foot seas but the wind is about at 20 knots directly on the nose. The first boat across the line early tomorrow will either be Troika or Alacrity. It's a quite a race for those boats. They are just moving along very slowly into the wind. They are not making much headway even though the winds are strong because the waves and sea's action are holding them down."

The 777-nautical mile Charleston to Bermuda race is broken into several divisions: spinnaker, non-spinnaker, multi-hulls and classic yachts.

All boats will be scored according to their ratings with the race utilising the seconds-per-minute handicapping system based on previous performances

The race was first run in 1997 and was was won by David Sully.

American Rick Orchards currently holds the record for the fastest Charleston to Bermuda crossing. Orchard set the mark in 2001 when he completed the race course in 73 hours flat.

South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford and his wife, flew into the Island yesterday to attend the Bermuda Sloop Foundation reception at the Bacardi International building. Governor Sanford will join Bermuda Governor Sir John Vereker and Lady Vereker today in inspecting the race fleet when they arrive.