painted himself as the perfect silhouette in Hamilton Harbour, that of the new Brut Gold Cup champion and holder of $55,000 cash.

After losing to fellow Australian Rod Davis in last year's final, Gilmour, seeded second for the Gold Cup, assured himself of a better fate this time out.

Calling on the vast experience and skill that has garnered him position in over 40 match race finals over the past decade the tall Aussie put aside a challenge from Great Britain's Chris Law 3-1 in a drawn out best-of-five race final that was not decided until close to seven o'clock.

Law and his hard working crew had appeared sharp throughout the week, but his array of charms deserted him when confronted by the Australian master.

However, it appeared his luck would hold early when he downed Gilmour by 15 seconds in the first race.

Yet it would be his only bright spark on this day as a resurgent Gilmour responded with three consecutive triumphs to put to rest the notion of an upset.

Gilmour, who had beaten American and fellow Team Brut member Ed Baird in the semi-finals a day earlier expressed delight at winning the Bermuda event, which had been the only race on the match racing circuit he had never won.

"We're delighted to win, it's a really great team effort. The boys battled away all week and hung together,'' said Gilmour, he and his crew of Hartwell Jordan, Kazuhiko Sofuku and David Clavert Jones swarmed by a bevy of overseas media at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's floating dock.

"I've never won the Gold Cup before, so personally I'm very satisfied but team wise as well I'm very excited, it's a great victory.

"Probably the key really was learning how to sail the boats and having very experienced teamwork. That's what got us there at the end of the day and I think you're only as good as the team you sail with and the boys won it.'' On a day were wind came at a premium Gilmour thrived, correctly gauging the numerous shifts in order to maximise boat speed, unlike Law who struggled under the fluky conditions.

Gilmour admitted fortune to have smiled upon he and his men in regard to being able to find the breeze which ultimately carried him to a lucrative payday.

"Yes. I think so, we were lucky in a few different wind shifts and really played that side of it pretty hard and we're delighted to come away with a victory,'' added Gilmour, who next sets off for Japan and the Nippon Cup before moving on to the Match Racing World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

For Law, 1995 marked his best ever performance at the Gold Cup, which has not been kind to the Brits in recent years.

The result also distinguished Law as a still rising star on the match racing circuit and one to certainly watch.

"I think it was a very good team performance, the best British result for a long time,'' said Law, who, like Gilmour, had endless praise for his crew of Neal McDonald, Andy Hemmings and James Stagg. "I congratulate my guys for sailing so well and I also think the race officer should be congratulated for getting that extra race in so that we didn't have a controversy surrounding that.

"I think Peter sailed better and his team sailed better today, they were faster in the light (air) and he thoroughly deserves the victory.'' In addition to the $30,000 first prize, Gilmour collected an additional $25,000 for topping the Brut Bonus Pool after entering the regatta tied with France's Bertrand Pace, a first round casualty. Law received $18,000 for placing second.

Yesterday's petit final witnessed three-time former Gold Cup champion Russell Coutts defeat Baird 2-1 to claim third place and $11,500.

Saturday had seen Law upset world number one and top seed Coutts of New Zealand in the semi-finals to set up yesterday's final.

The unseeded Law came from behind in all three of his wins to score a 3-1 victory over Coutts, who incurred penalties in all three of the defeats.

Gilmour had no such problem with Baird, defeating the Floridian by 29, 29 and 31 seconds respectively.

Coutts won the first race against Law, leading from start to finish for a narrow seven-second victory.

The New Zealander suffered a DNF (did not finish) in race two when he earned a penalty turn at the start that he never completed.

Coutts earned another penalty during the start of race three when he entered the starting area one second too early. He still led Law for five of the six-leg course until the last windward mark when he performed his penalty turn and Law was able to squeak by inside him for a five-second win.

In race four, Law rounded the last mark right behind Coutts and gained on him all the way down the leg to the finish. The committee actually signalled Coutts as winning, but he hit the finishing buoy and was again given a DNF.

GOLDEN GLORY -- Peter Gilmour of Australia raises the King Edward VII Gold Cup as the winner of this year's Brut match racing event.

Photos by Tamell Simons ALL THE KING'S MEN -- Peter Gilmour (far right) surveys the competition during action in Hamilton Harbour yesterday. On board with Gilmour are crew Hartwell Jordan, Kazuhiko Sofuku and David Calvert Jones.