in waters off Marblehead, Massachusetts, in the best possible fashion, garnering two firsts and topping the leaderboard following the opening set of races.

The recently-crowned Athlete of the Year was in vintage form as he beat back the challenges of his main rivals, including Americans Bill Widnall and John Burnham as well as fellow Bermudian and former champion Penny Simmons.

Bromby stands first with the lowest possible total of one-and-a-half points, three and a half in front of 1990 champion and frequent International Race Week competitor Widnall (five), who managed a second and third.

Simmons was also impressive as he was fourth in the first race and jumped two places to second the next time out. Combined results gave him six points, good for third with five more races to be contested. Another person familiar to the Island's shores, Burnham, currently occupies the fourth spot with seven points.

It appeared from the outset that it would be a day for the tall Bermudian and his four-man crew containing Mickey Cox, Lee White, Malcolm Wilson and Mick Finnegan to excel, especially with breezes out of the south ranging from 8-12 knots -- quite heavy for Marblehead. This put him in a position of strength ahead of hometown favourite Widnall, known to prefer much lighter winds, and with waters flat Bromby pressed home the advantage.

A great start in race one enabled Bromby to control things and go wire-to-wire for the win. Meanwhile, Widnall likewise produced a splendid effort, flourishing on the downwind legs -- it was a windward/leeward course -- and fighting from well back to secure the runner-up position.

In order to get in the second race competitors were forced to change boats on the water and once under way it was Burnham heading the charge ahead of Bromby, Simmons and San Francisco's Dennis Jermaine.

Burnham continued in that role until the final windward leg when he and Simmons chose a line to the left while Bromby, fourth at one stage, veered off in the opposite direction. Simmons overhauled Burnham but could not conquer the Bromby juggernaut, which just nipped him at the finish.

This year's start by the 28-year-old local prodigy -- Bermuda's lone world champion in any sport -- was even better than last year when he registered a second and first on opening day to start him on the way to the title in San Francisco Bay, California.

He has more than justified his installment as pre-race favourite and in the process sounded a warning to all others that may have designs on the championship.

However, it will be interesting to see what transpires if the wind speed lessens to the benefit of Widnall and Burnham. But forecasters predict much of the same as yesterday, delightful news for the two Bermudians trying for another one-two finish.

"It was a good day of racing out there with light, moderate weather, but we would like to see a little more wind,'' said Simmons, Bermuda's most experienced IOD sailor. "There's still a possibility for me to win it as it is for anybody. It's still wide open out there and anything can happen with five races still to go.'' Racing continues out of the Corinthian Yacht Club today before switching to the Eastern Yacht Club tomorrow.

PETER BROMBY -- With the IOD World Championship trophy that he does not want to let go.