Local sailors Mark Cloutier and Martin Vezina clinched their respective classes while Peter Bromby and Craig Davis moved to within striking distance of capturing both the Etchells and International One Design (IOD) titles during yesterday's Bacardi International Race Week action out in the Great Sound.

Proving to be consistent all week long, Cloutier wasted little time adding the proverbial icing to the cake by sailing away with this year's J-105 title, while equally as consistent, Vezina lifted the Laser International Race Week trophy.

Cloutier had a huge helping hand along the way as crewman Adam Barboza guided the former's boat to three wins on Tuesday to lay the foundation for yesterday's triumph.

"We were consistent but for one race today," Cloutier reflected. "It was Tuesday when in fact I had to work and Adam (Barboza) pulled off three firsts that gave us a bit of breathing room for today. It was great team work. We just brought the boat into Bermuda about three weeks ago. So she's still brand new to Bermuda and this was the first major event with her. And she's proven to be a pretty good boat. So all things considered, we're pretty well pleased tonight."

Given the chance to shine, Barboza did not disappoint his skipper in the least.

"It was us and the team that we put together and basically the overall set-up of the boat," said Barboza. "Everything just came together and overall it has been a really fun week. We didn't have any expectations of doing well and as soon as we put the sails out yesterday we knew that we were going to do well."

Bermuda's Glen Astwood finished second while Jamie Hilton placed third in the all-local fleet.

Also basking in post race celebrations yesterday was an equally ecstatic Vezina.

"I knew going into today (yesterday) that I only needed seven points. So I played it conservative," he said. "Malcolm (Smith) had a perfect day today but it's been great for me as I started off with three first places on the first day and then on the second day I managed two firsts and a fourth. So after those two first days I was in great shape because Malcolm and Brett (Wright) both got off to rocky starts."

After all was said and done in the Laser class, Bermuda occupied the top three places as Smith - last year's champion - finished strongly with two bullets yesterday to close as runner-up to Vezina while Wright finished third overall out of a fleet of 14 entries.

Meanwhile, Canada's Ali Mellor stormed to his second 505 Race Week title in the past three years, with German crew Angela Steger.

American Jahn Tihansky finished second while his compatriot Barney Harris placed third.

"Except for one race, we've been pretty consistent. We made all of our mistakes in one race where we placed sixth," said Mellor. "I think that Angela (Steger) and I sail well together. The conditions were light and we were lighter. So at times we had a little bit of an edge. So we were able to hang in there and sail fast. I think that partly we sailed fast and partly we sailed pretty smart.

"It was very close and exciting racing but it could have very easily been the other way around."

Also basking in the glory was the Steger, who won the 505 class title as Mellor's crew in 2001.

"The first time that we sailed together was two years ago in Bermuda. So when Ali said that he might be coming back and that he needed a crew, of course it wasn't a very difficult decision for me to make. And it paid off," said Steger.

On the verge of joining local sailors Cloutier and Vezina in the winner's circle are Bermuda's 2004 Olympic hopeful Bromby and Davis.

After the dust had settled in the Etchells fleet, it was Bromby left holding the smoking gun. The world top ranked sailor scored two bullets yesterday to place himself firmly in the driver's seat. Trailing the Bermudian in second place is American Tim Lynch with the Island's 2002 Female Athlete of the Year Paul Lewin onboard. Bermuda's Tim Patton and Christi Luthi remain in third and fourth respectively.

"I think that we are in a very commanding position with two races to go tomorrow," said Bromby. "It's still relatively light (winds). I think this has probably been one of the lightest air regattas that I can recall in Race Week. But I think that tomorrow will be different and that will only help our cause - barring breakdown."

Bromby, 39, will be gunning for his third consecutive KF Trimingham Trophy.

Having already clinched the IOD `A' series on Wednesday, Davis is beginning to see an even brighter light at the end of tunnel. Yesterday, the shy skipper let his all-female crew do the talking. Davis chalked up two more wins to place himself in a solid position to clinch the Vrengen Gold Cup.

The avid sailor is being accompanied onboard by Laura Kempe, Terry Hart, Lisa Siese, Linda Dresser, Kim Brydon and Heather Cooper. Americans John Rumsey and Kevin Kerrar sit in second and third respectively heading into today's final race.

"It was really good. The first race was really close. We had a really nice upwind and an equally good downwind to hold off Encore and Privateer," said Hart, on behalf of her skipper.

"And every leg we were able to increase our lead. The winds were very shifty and we had Laura (Kempe) and Kim (Brydon) calling the shifts and they have done a fantastic job."

In the J-24 class, Canada's Rudy Wolfs maintained his grip on the proceedings. Wolfs also seized two wins yesterday and currently holds a four-point lead heading into today's final two races. Compatriot Sean McDermott remained in second and local sailor Trevor Boyce in third.

"The winds were great. The race committee set up a great race course and our team were able to put together some great boat speed," said Wolfs.

"Obviously the results have been very fruitful for us and the boat is in good shape."

Full results, see Scoreboard.