entered enemy territory in St. George's and promptly disposed of all challengers on the way to recording a pair of first-place finishes aboard Echo .

However, while Bromby and his trusted crew of Michael Taylor, Richard Bernardo, Ray Charlton, Anson Nash and newlyweds Martin and Lisa Siese enjoyed a fortuitous day, things were not nearly so rosy for the host craft, Victory .

After being forced to withdraw following a collision with Contest at the windward stake boat in race one, they had the misfortune of sinking while rounding the last leeward mark for the final leg.

Skipper Michael Oatley appeared especially upset over the initial mishap, exclaiming: "It was a dirty piece of sailing,'' in obvious reference to rival skipper Andreas Lewin. "That's not dinghy racing!'' The first race was delayed when the two craft flying under the banner of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Elizabeth and Port Royal , both arrived late to St. George's.

Wilfred White and his Port Royal team in fact failed to start the first race, leaving six to battle for the Trott Cup.

Gentle but shifting north-easterly breezes greeted the starters and it was Contest seizing the early initiative to lead around the first windward mark.

Nevertheless, it became readily apparent that Echo was faster downwind and adding to that the tactical ability of Bromby there was little chance of them being beaten.

By the end of the second leg, Echo had assumed the top spot, a position she never relinquished.

Meanwhile, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club entry did well to hold on for second ahead of a charging William White in Elizabeth .

White was able to get the better of current overall points leader Paul Fisher ( Challenger ) as he forced the latter out on the course during the final leg, resulting in their plummeting to a season-low fifth-place finish.

Bloodhound , appearing to have a new lease on life since Blythe Walker took over the helm from father Jordy, stayed upright to wind up fourth.

A squall, which brought buckets of rain, delayed the beginning of the second race for the St. George's Dinghy and Sports Club Cup by over an hour.

It failed, though, to halt or dampen the strides of Echo , which once again surged to the head of the fleet early, leaving all others in a battle for second.

Victory was a part of that fight before suffering her ignominious fate and it was Contest taking the runner-up spot followed by Challenger , Port Royal , Elizabeth and Bloodhound .

If the latest results stand, Echo (701 points) will have moved to within six-and-a-half points of stable-mate Challenger (77) in the race for Coronation Cup honours after entering the day 13 in arrears.

Defending champion Contest (631 ) is third and has only a remote chance of catching the leaders.

Female sailing ace Paula Lewin made a strong showing on the final day of the Women's World Championship Regatta in Denmark, sailing her Europe Dinghy to 19th place in the seventh and final race.

The result gave her 46th overall out of 124 boats representing 31 countries.

THAT SINKING FEELING -- Michael Oatley, far right, and his crew scramble aboard their sunken vessel Victory as rival craft Challenger sails by.