Malcolm Smith placed first in the Lasers and Peter Bromby third in the Star Class as Bermuda was represented in three classes during the Marblehead Olympic Classes Regatta in Massachusetts at the weekend.

In the six-race Laser series, Smith recovered from an eighth position after two races on Friday to win the class on 10 points after posting two firsts and two seconds in the four races on Sunday.

"I picked up a new boat prior to the regatta and it went well for me,'' said Smith.

"Sunday was when I put it together. I was really consistent on the last day.

I had never sailed up there before, but the conditions were easy to figure out once I got on the water.

"We received some good information from coach Chuck Milligan before we left.'' Second in the Lasers was American Scott Milnes, who is ranked in the top five in the US, after he recorded finishes of 11th, third, fourth, 16th and two firsts on the final day for 20 points after a throw-out.

Another American, Peter Follansbee, was third on 21 points. There were a total of 24 boats in the class, including two other Bermudians, Douglas DeCouto (14th overall) and Odwin Berkeley (23rd).

Bromby and crew Lee White were third out of 15 boats in the Star Class while in the 470s Elizabeth Walker and Leslie Cherry were fifth among eight boats, though they were third among the women competitors and won the bronze.

Racing scheduled for Saturday was called off because of fog which made visibility difficult. All the classes had four races on Sunday in eight to 12 knot breezes.

But it was the light air on Friday that allowed for only one race in the Star Class which Bromby feels cost him a possible first place finish.

The class was only able to get in five races, which prevented skippers from having a throw-out.

In the lone race on Friday Bromby and White placed seventh. Compared to finishes of first, third, third and first in his final four races on Sunday, Friday's mark would have been his throw-out. And since he was only four points out of first place it could have made the difference, Bromby said.

"The difference in the regatta was (John) McCausland's second in the first race when the weather was fluky,'' said Bromby.

McCausland, who was second in the US trials for the Barcelona Olympics and is one of the top five in the US and probably ranked in the top 10 in the world, won the regatta with a total of 11 points while another American, Ron Sanstrom, was second on 14 points. Sanstrom is ranked about fifth or sixth in the US and was 16th at the World Championships last year.

"Both of them we race quite often,'' said Bromby.

Bromby and White were denied victory in the third race on Sunday when, after leading on the weather mark, they were overtaken on the final run by McCausland and Sanstrom. "Two of the fastest guys downwind,'' said Bromby.

"If we had got in one more race we could have tossed the seventh and could have won the regatta,'' Bromby said on reflection. "Both our wins were very sound.

"We figured going up there that there would probably be four good guys in the competition. So to be in the top three I'm happy with that.'' Gary McDonald, who won the lone race on Friday, was fourth overall behind Bromby.

Bromby decided to compete in the regatta to further familiarise himself with the conditions there which is also the venue for the North American Championships in August.

His next three big overseas races will be the North Americans, the World Championships in San Diego in September and a pre-Olympic regatta in Savanna, Georgia, between July 17-23.

Smith is also planning to participate in the pre-Olympic regatta. Savanna is the sailing venue for the 1996 Olympics.

PETER BROMBY -- Cancellation might have cost him first place.