They wrote letters and lobbied their case and now Bermuda's leading sailors are breathing a collective sigh of relief following a vital change in Government's customs duty policy towards local athletes.

Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin - both Olympics qualifiers - are thankful they can now bring their boats into the Island for training purposes without being slapped with heavy duties. In his recent Budget, Finance Minister Eugene Cox indicated that Government will amend the Customs Tariff "to eliminate duty on the temporary importation of equipment required by our athletes and sportspersons while they are based in Bermuda".

"I am so thrilled about that. That's great, just great. I knew they were working on it but I never heard the outcome. That is superb news," declared Lewin, who is overseas and only learnt of the decision recently.

The Yngling competitor revealed that she had protested strenuously last September when asked to pay 33 percent duty after shipping her boat here.

"I said to them 'You guys, I am training for the Olympics. This is not right'."

Though eventually paying a reduced duty, Lewin pursued the matter at Ministerial level and did not lapse in her quest.

"I wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance and I must have called them about ten times, chasing them 'What's going on? What's going on?'. I am so glad now," she told The Royal Gazette.

Bromby too did his share of reasoning with Government on the issue. However, he lost out because he only "got wind" of the final decision six days after he relented and paid the full duty on his vessel.

"I've had meetings with (the Ministry of) Youth and Sports over the last decade. Both administrations really hadn't got that far with it in terms of making it a reality and about four months ago I decided to bite the bullet and pay the duty on my boat.

"It certainly is a step in the right direction and it's paving the way for the people coming behind me," said the Star Class expert.

Asked if he thought Government would refund or discount the money he has paid he replied: "I wouldn't think so but I haven't tried (to get it back)."

Lewin said the tax change means she will definitely train more at home in her build-up to next year's Olympics.