a slew of protests in the sixth and last race of the World Star Championships held off Marblehead, Massachusetts last Friday.

Bromby and American crew Michael Marcel, who led the championships over the first four races after finishes of second, third, sixth and sixth, slipped back when they placed 14th in the fifth race and then withdrew during light air on the final day.

At that stage Bromby was listed as fourth in the 71-boat fleet but following a successful protest of championship leader Eric Doyle and crew Brian Terraar of San Diego, was promoted to third -- his best ever finish in the Star Worlds.

For Doyle, however, the protest ruling was devastating. Instead of winning the regatta, he was dropped to 11th overall. In a controversial final race in which eight attempts were made to start, Doyle was disqualified.

Overall victory went to American Alexander Hagen and crew Marcelo Ferreira after they placed second on the last day and were able to throw out their worst finish of 36th in race two. American Olympian Mark Reynolds finished second.

Bermuda's David Summers completed an adventurous trip to the L16 International Championships by finishing in third place overall.

Summers and his crew of Billy Williams and Gregory Summers lost by only 200 feet to former US Olympian Gene Wallet in the fifth and final race of the regatta on Sunday in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Summers was pleased with the result, considering the crew had never sailed together and it was in a class of boat -- Luders -- that is all but extinct on the Island. It was also Summers' first time sailing in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 1982 L16 international champion, Summers and a crew of Al Gooch and Brad Phillips were fourth at last year's championships. This year, Gooch sailed with Wallet, who was sitting in a virtual dead heat with Summers heading into the final race.

The event was won by former Olympic gold medallist and world Soling champion John Dane.