finish yesterday at the Bacardi Cup in Key Biscayne, Florida.

The only problem was that their eighth-place finish counted while Tuesday's sixth place did not.

Racing officials had ruled Tuesday's race invalid and ordered it re-sailed yesterday after several yachtsmen won a controversial appeal because of a black flag earlier in the day when several boats slipped past the starting line too early.

The bickering continues to cast a dark pall over the tournament since that ruling is now being appealed. It also resulted in only one of two scheduled races to be conducted yesterday.

Despite the controversy, Bromby and White were able to bask in the afterglow of yesterday's performance, which now places them in a highly-respectable 15th overall in the competition.

Americans John Kostecki and George Iverson are still ahead of the pack, but are beginning to feel pressure from other racers, most notably US Olympic gold medallist Mark Reynolds, who finished first yesterday and now finds himself in second place overall after three days of racing. Kostecki and Iverson were fourth after yesterday's race but managed to cling to first overall.

Bromby believes a quick start played a significant role in his strong results yesterday.

"We are coming along quite well,'' he said. "You are happy anytime you finish in the top 10. We were strong off the line, and we were in excellent position after the weather mark and also after the triangle.'' Breezy conditions allowed Reynolds to make his move on Kostecki, but Bromby said John MacCausland of Connecticut, who finished second yesterday, is a racer to keep an eye on.

The protest committee was studying the appeal late last night and were to decide whether to reinstate the invalid race after all.

Bromby said such a decision is unlikely. That means two races will be held today with the last race scheduled for Friday. Racers will be able to use the best five of six races for final standing.