weekend as success arrived twofold.

While Blythe Walker seized the BGA National Sailing Championship title away from Peter Bromby, sister Elizabeth made headlines of her own across the Atlantic by winning the New England Singlehanded Collegiate Ladies Championship.

The venue was the Charles River near Boston, Massachusetts, but it could just as well have been Walker's own backyard as she displayed remarkable consistency in the final four races of the six-race series.

After starting shakily with seventh and 10th place finishes in her first two outings, Walker settled to the task, registering in her next four races a second, second, third and fifth, giving her a winning total of 29 points.

She edged Erica Beck of the United States by a single point, while another American, Chris Pohl (34) was third.

Another Bermudian, Megan Spurling -- Walker's normal crew when racing the double-handed 470 craft -- also placed well, finishing ninth with 57 points.

The local duo were both sailing as representatives of McGill University of Montreal and their performances helped the university finish atop the women's team standings followed by the University of New Hampshire and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

For her efforts Walker gained automatic qualification to the North American Collegiate Ladies Championships to be held in Portland, Oregon on October 21.

This week sees the team of Walker and Spurling travelling to Savannah, Georgia for an Olympic Class Regatta where they will contest the 470 class.

Elizabeth Walker