fact that the Sandys Boat Club provided all three of the Island's representatives.

Peter Bromby, Martin Siese and Paul Fisher all have strong ties at the west-end club regarded as somewhat of a working man's, or blue collar, establishment.

While others receive more notoriety the little blue club perched inside Somerset Village continues to churn out some of the Island's premier sailors.

None have shone more broghtly than Bromby, the reigning world International One Design (IOD) champion, who is regarded in many quarters as Bermuda's best bar none.

This year has seen the 28-year-old take top honours during International Race Week, compete in the Star Class at the Barcelona Olympics, successfully defend his crown at the aforementioned world championships in Massachussetts and then gain access to his current pursuit by sweeping to seven straight wins at the inaugural Bermuda Cup.

Although overshadowed up to this point by Bromby, Siese is viewed as a rising star and appears to be coming more into his own, gaining increasing notoriety for his exploits in both fitted dinghies and IODs.

As skipper of the syndicate boat Echo , housed by the Sandys Boat Club, Siese and other members have taken a craft that was viewed as uncompetitive by their previous owners and turned it into one of the swiftest on the circuit, finishing second to Challenger in the recently completed series.

Two years older than the other two and similarly talented is Fisher. He accompanied Bromby at the Olympic Games as crew but remains a force in his own right.

Fisher was an 11th-hour entrant at this week's regatta and nearly qualified for the first round. He and his hastily arranged crew of Eddie Bardgett, Glen Astwood and Ray DeSilva gave their all, but still lost out in the final race when a victory was needed against Germany's Jorg Diesch.

Nevertheless, Bromby said that it was special just for the three to be involved: "It is indeed a proud moment for the club. To have the three of us from the same club is quite an accomplishment and I think the club deserves a lot of credit.

"In the past it's not always been financially feasible for some of us and we've not always got the best sailors in the Omega Gold Cup, but now on this occasion, with sponsorship provided we've been able to get three of the best sailors in Bermuda, who are also (Sandys) boat club members that grew up together, have the benefit of competing in this world class event.'' All three were raised in the heart of Somerset around the East Shore, Sound View area with many of their summer days spent sailing on the waters off Mangrove Bay and in the Great Sound as members of the club's junior Sunfish sailing programme.

Added Bromby: "The positive side of it for the boat club is that the three of us grew up together. We all sailed together out of the club as young kids and the competitiveness between the three of us contributed to our development to where we are today.

"We were all friendly rivals as children but there were some fierce rivalries when we raced in the club's Sunfish programmes.'' The programme that reared the three has been nonexistent for several years, but Bromby insisted that they are making every effort to reinstate it, possibly for next year.

"They had a good junior programme some years ago which we're the products of.'' said Bromby, who will face Frenchman Marc Pajot today in the first round. "However we need to get it going again now so that on the back side of us we have good sailors coming along.

"We're looking at this (participation in the Omega Gold Cup) as possibly a springboard to heighten interest.'' PETER BROMBY -- Part of the talented trio of Sandys Boat Club sailors who are competing in the Omega Gold Cup this week.