to help the latter retain her title at the Reed and Barton International Women's Match Racing Championship in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

National champion Bromby stopped off in Marblehead on his way back from the Star world championships to lend his expertise to Lewin and her crew of three in an event which lifted Lewin to the head of the women's rankings in match racing.

The win also propelled her to 19th overall in the list -- the highest position she has ever held.

Lewin explained that Bromby's input was essentially tactical.

"Although we are at a certain level which is quite high, there are still aspects we need to work on,'' she said. "Peter helped more in refining our tactics and on some of the smaller points. For example, he would point out how if we didn't do a certain manoeuvre properly it could cost us a boat length.

"He also helped to ensure that when the gun went we were up to full speed.'' Lewin, sailing with an all-woman crew of twin sister Peta, Leatrice Roman, and Lisa Beashel, dropped just two flights in the four-day event -- the only grade one event for women in North America -- against nine other competitors.

"I think what pleased us most was our consistency,'' she said. "The various aspects such as starts, boat handling, nerves and tactics all came together.'' The Marblehead competition was Lewin's fourth match racing regatta of the year and now she turns her attention to the fifth -- the Bermuda Gold Cup, which starts in a couple of weeks, and when Bromby will again be a competitor.

But she plays down talk of any great rivalry between the pair of them.

"Obviously when the Gold Cup and the Nationals come round we are rivals but we all feel the same -- that we come from a small Island and we'll help each other if we can,'' she said.

The main aim for Lewin, who had a disappointing Gold Cup last year, is to qualify for the later rounds. But she'll have her work cut out with the entry list, including former winners Peter Gilmour and Russell Coutts, looking stronger than ever.

Gavin Brady, who made an impact on the competition last year is also back, while England's world number two Chris Law and Whitbread race winner Paul Cayard will be in attendance.

Lewin, who both works for and is sponsored by Tempest Reinsurance, said: "It would be nice to qualify. If we get light air we will have a chance.

"This year we will have an all-women's crew for the first time. We think women's match racing is going to get better and there are hopes it will be an Olympic sport by the year 2004 and that is our priority now.'' Bromby and Lee White finished third in the North American Star championships after Thursday's final race was hit by powerful winds that decimated the fleet. The Bermudian pair were among several crews from the 37 boats unable to finish after gusty westerly winds of 18-20 knots increased to 30 knots as the fleet rounded the weather mark for the second time and took the full force of the breeze.

Several competitors suffered broken masts, others saw booms sheared off, while two men went overboard and a mainsail exploded during the race at the Northern Lake George Yacht Club in Hague, New York.

Bromby and White, who won the second and third races of the series, finished with a total of 16 points while winners Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl ended with seven and second placed John MacCausland and Phil Trinter notched 11 points.