Twelve months after being defeated by Peter Bromby and temporarily ousted from Gold Cup contention, Blythe Walker returned with a vengeance yesterday.

In the midst of Hamilton Harbour, Bromby again stood in the role of chief antagonist, but unlike 1994 this time Walker was ready.

Showing great teamwork and skill in reading the wind shifts, Walker and his crew refused to bow under the pressure exerted by Bromby and even after losing the opening encounter of their best-of-three match race series they were able to storm back and win the BGA National Sailing Championship, a title Bromby has made virtually his own over the years.

It was a match in stark contrast to their previous meeting, when Walker cruised to an early lead in what was a best-of-five series only to have Bromby come back with three consecutive victories.

This time Bromby was the one raging at the start, but slow to finish.

After each had qualified for the final -- Bromby defeated Adam Barboza, while Walker downed Paula Lewin in the earlier semi-finals -- Bromby quickly got down to business, using a deft fake turn seconds before the starting gun sounded to gain the advantage on his opponent, one he never relinquished.

Similar opening scenarios unfurled at the beginning of the next two races, but Walker's swift tacking manoeuvres, sail sets and superior speed upwind proved decisive as he won both by comfortable margins.

A smiling, relieved Walker later was the toast of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

"As I said a week ago in the paper, `the best man on the day would win','' said Walker, accompanied by his crew of Glen Astwood, Michael Tatem and Steven King.

"Until we crossed the finish line there was doubt (that we would win).

"The main thing for us throughout was just keeping calm and taking things as they come.'' As his reward Walker will have the opportunity of facing the best match racers in the world and just as against Bromby, the deck will be stacked heavily against him, something he merely noted as "interesting''.

Meanwhile, Bromby, who forfeited his opportunity to race in the Brut Gold Cup in order to concentrate solely on next year's Olympics was gracious in defeat.

"Blythe just sailed well,'' said Bromby, who had appeared unstoppable during the semis and into the first race of the final. "The wind shifts didn't pan out for us and he took full advantage.

"We had good starts, but couldn't maintain position created by them.'' Meanwhile, history was made as Paula Lewin became the first Bermudian woman to earn a berth in the Brut Gold Cup when she defeated Barboza 2-0 in the consolation final to seize the second spot -- third overall behind Bromby and Walker.

Lewin, accompanied on board by sister Peta, brother Andreas and Gary Roman, recovered well from an earlier loss to Walker to eliminate Barboza in convincing fashion.

The first race saw her overcome a forced penalty turn and the second saw her surge from well behind her male combatant to claim victory.

"I'm super excited, it's so nice to do well on home territory,'' said Lewin, bubbling with her latest success. "It's most rewarding to be able to do this around people that you sail with all the time.

"I feel very proud being the first (Bermudian) woman, which can only make the sport better. Integration is great and I'm proud to be part of it.'' Like Walker, Lewin was aware of the momentous challenge that awaits and admitted that it would require intense practice with her crew in the time before the Gold Cup to stand a chance.

The Gold Cup takes place in Hamilton Harbour from October 15-22.

A.J.Crane won yesterday's BGA Junior Gold Cup, beating 17 others for the title.

Crane recorded three first place finishes, a second and seventh during the five race series to head home the fleet.

Second was Alexander Kirkland, who was a model of consistency with a first, two seconds and two thirds, while Shaun Johnson finished third.