last week's Arms White Regatta in Millford, Connecticut, enjoyed a good start in the eight-race Marblehead Olympic Class Regatta for Star boats in Massachusetts yesterday.

In the three races on the first day, Bromby and crew Lee White won the first, went over the line early in the second and then placed second in the third race and is midway down the 18-boat fleet with three races scheduled for today and the final two tomorrow.

American Dave Curtis, who also had a DNS (did not start), won the second and third races and will be one of the leading contenders to win the regatta, even though he is more known in the Etchells class, having won the Etchells world championships several times.

Curtis is from Marblehead and his knowledge of the conditions could give him the edge, Bromby feels.

"We're going to have our hands full with Curtis, he knows the currents better here in Marblehead and made that work for him today,'' said Bromby, who is still confident of his own chances of a high finish.

"Last year I was third and I would like to do better than that. We've had a lot of top two finishes on the circuit and we're in good shape in this regatta.'' The regatta is being led by Ireland's Bill O'Hara who had a second and two fourths yesterday while American John McCausland is second and Ron Sandstrom third. Bromby feels any one of four or five skippers has a good chance of victory.

"Both Curtis and ourselves should move up dramatically if we get a drop race and provided we have good results tomorrow,'' Bromby explained.

"The competition here is not at the same level as the Miami Olympic Class Regatta but there are four or five good guys here. It's still wide open at this point.

"Our speed seemed good, particularly when the breeze was up today. Generally it was light air, three to eight miles an hour, but in the last race it was a little windier, about six to 10.

Bromby and White are due to return to Bermuda on Tuesday.