Peter Bromby’s title hopes have been dashed at the IOD World Championship in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The former Bermuda Olympic sailor had been in contention for a fourth win in the regatta before his title hopes ended after retiring from the eighth race and failing to start the ninth for reasons yet to be determined.

He is now seventh in the 12-strong fleet with one race remaining in the ten-race series.

The Royal Gazette has reached out for comment from Bromby, who held a share of the lead through the opening two races with rival skippers Peter Wickwire and Jonathan Farrar.

The battle for the title remains wide open with only five points separating leader Wickwire to third place Farrar.

Wickwire, a four-times Bermuda International Invitational Race Week winner, sits on 26 points, second place Anton Karlsson has 28.8 and Farrar 31.

Also representing Bermuda at this year’s IOD World Championship is Kelsey Durham, who sits in eighth, five points adrift of compatriot Bromby heading into Friday’s final race.

“It’s been a long, tough week and everyone is feeling their blows,” Durham said.

Only one race was held on Thursday due to a gale warning.

“The wind was blowing 15-18 knots and a big ocean swell made it difficult,” Durham said.

“Waves were washing over the boat which made it hard to steer through them.”