last year's Omega Gold Cup with each making tremendous strides in the world rankings.

International One Design world champion Peter Bromby and Blythe Walker are both featured among the top 100 in the latest list released by the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) with Bromby perched in the 25th spot while the latter sits at 76th.

For Bromby it is a vast improvement from his 37th placing prior to the Gold Cup. For Walker, however, this is even more of a quantum leap as the local did not even figure in the rankings prior to 1993.

Both made it through the qualifying series of last year's regatta before being ousted in the first round, but they also benefitted from participation in the Bank of Bermuda Cup which offered world rankings points for the first time last year.

Meanwhile, Bromby further added to his cause through his bid to wrest the Nation's Cup, reaching the finals in Holland.

Walker expressed surprise on hearing of his meteoric rise to greater prominence among the world's best.

"I mainly decided (last year) that I wasn't going to go abroad for that many international regattas and instead put all my efforts into the Gold Cup and Bank of Bermuda Cup and I was quite pleased with the effort,'' said Walker.

"Peter has asked me to team up with him for the Pan-Am Games (March, 1995) among J24 class, but I'm not sure if I want to do that or the 470's.'' Many viewed 1993 as somewhat of a coming out for Walker, the son of well-known sailor Jordy Walker, although he has featured prominently in local and overseas events in the past.

While he expressed a desire to take part in other races, Walker did not want to hastily leap into such a venture.

"I'd like to do a couple of regattas on the match racing circuit but I would have to have a steady crew,'' he said. "You really need a good core of crew members to do well.'' Conversely, Bromby, who thrilled in seizing the world title for the third time in a row, has been quite active in international circles as of late and today will see action at the Etchells Mid Winter Regatta in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Bromby finished 15th at the Can-Am Regatta -- American Jim Brady was first -- earlier this month while teamed with Lee White and has the latter again as crew for this trip along with Clive Thatcher.

The Mid Winters will serve as something of a warm-up for the Bacardi Cup next month, also in Florida, where Bromby and White revert back to the Star class.

PETER BROMBY -- Listed in 25th place.