as he has managed to pull off in the triathlon and powerboat racing then the fortunes of Peter Bromby are in good hands.

Bromby has just officially taken on White as his new crew member and the team will shortly begin their first serious build-up to the 1996 Olympic Games when they compete in the Bacardi Cup in Miami on March 7.

White has been a fierce competitor all his life having conquered the triathlon and powerboat racing. Now he intends to extend this graceful run of triumphs to Star sailing and naturally Bromby is grateful for his presence.

White is looking ahead to the challenge of helping Bromby reach the Olympics in three years' time and has no reservations about switching to another sport for the third time.

"I guess you can say that I have new interest in a way. We all go through phases in life and it's a matter of me liking to find a new challenge and joining Peter as a crew is indeed one. Water has always been an area of fun for me and the truth is that I have just as much fun doing 10 miles an hour on the water as I have doing 80 miles an hour,'' he said.

What is really exciting for White, who replaces Paul Fisher as Bromby's crew, is that they know what they are aiming for right from the start, which is the Olympics and nothing less.

White got a sample of the excitement that prevails at the Olympics when he went to Barcelona as a reserve to the Star team of Bromby and Fisher last year and he hinted that it would be nice to experience it once again as a full-fledged member of the Star team.

"We knew back then that it was Paul's intention to not be involved in 1996, so I decided to travel as a back-up crew and get to know what it was all about, to live in the Olympic Village and get a first-hand feeling of everything and it was all that I expected it to be,'' said White.

Although he is confident that he will do well in his new position, White does not hesitate to point out how tough it will be to become as valuable a partner to Bromby as Fisher was even though he has had some experience sailing with them in IODs in events like the Omega Gold Cup last year.

White regards Fisher as still being a member of the team. "He continues to help us out with some coaching and I know his vast experience as a sort of advisor will be of great assistance to me,'' he said.

The official baptism of the new team in the Bacardi Cup off Coral Reefs Yacht Club next Sunday will see them performing in waters where White had his first international experience in Star racing a year ago when he and Bromby participated in the Can-Am Regatta.

"It was my first time in a Star boat and we did pretty good to finish as high as 17th out of a fleet of 60 boats,'' recalled White. "The experience was good for me because one can't just jump into this very high-tech boat and do well. I think I learned a lot in this first race.'' He added: "When you change partners like Bromby has done it takes a while to establish some sort of unity. There are occasions when weights have to be shifted together and when other techniques and strings have to be pulled in unison.'' Commenting on his new-found love for sailing, White explained: "Sailing is like a chess game, you certainly have to use your wits. It is a very enjoyable, stimulating and challenging sport with no two days being the same.

"It involves a lot of thinking and it is indeed a new direction altogether from the other two sports in which I have been totally involved.'' White has had a long, outstanding career in powerboat racing and, along with co-pilot Herbie Adderley, is considered the pioneers for bringing catamarans into offshore racing.

As a team they became powerhouses on the water, winning three Round The Island races from 1983 to 1989, finishing second on three times and failing to finish on several other occasions after experiencing engine troubles when they were in the lead.

White's achievements in the triathlon are almost as sensational having being crowned champion on three occasions, from 1980 to 1983.

Now with new areas set to conquer White is putting these two sports behind him and concentrating on nothing but Star racing.

He intends to sell his 260 horsepower catamaran. "If I get a good offer for the boat I will definitely sell it. The Olympic campaign we have set requires total commitment and no distractions,'' he said.

POWERFUL DUO -- Lee White, left, and Herbie Adderley after one of their three triumphs in the Round The Island powerboat race. White has now traded the high-speed racing for the more subtle Olympic class Star boat where he will partner Peter Bromby.