BERMUDA'S Paula Lewin is geared up to defend her Cicada International Women's Match Racing crown in the annual regatta which starts on Saturday in Hamilton Harbour.

Lewin, who had a disappointing Olympics this summer in Athens skippering her Yngling boat, said she and her crew had been out training "a bit" in the much larger International One Design which is the class chosen for these Match Racing Championships.

And like last year, Lewin is hoping to come out on top so she can then race in the King Edward VII Gold Cup which will be staged also in Hamilton Harbour. "It would be great to win this year and get into the Gold Cup," said Lewin.

Of the four crew members sailing with Lewin this year ? sisters Peta and Megan along with Lisa Neasham and Leatrice Roman ? only two sailed with the Bermuda Olympic sailor last year namely Neasham and sister Megan.

Lewin will be up against some of the better match race women skippers in the world namely second-ranked Claire Leroy of France, number-seven ranked Betsy Alison from the United States and eighth-ranked Jenny Axhede from Sweden.

Also competing will be Holland's Klaartje Zuiderbaan who is currently in top form on the women's circuit and ranked number 23, Giulia Conti of Italy who comes in ranked 26th and unranked Japanese sailor Kuko Sakudo-Horikawa will be competing in Bermuda for the first time.

Lewin, who is currently ranked number 10 in the world, said that while she hasn't been sailing in the IODs a great deal this year, she did beat the foreign competitors last summer when she came fourth in the World Match Racing Championships in Annapolis, Maryland.

"We have beaten all the girls who are coming here at the Worlds in June. Then we were racing in the J-22 boats which are smaller and a lot lighter than the IODs.

"We have been out a little bit in the IODs recently and we also sailed them over the summer a few times. I really like IODs. However they are a handful and can be a little scary at the pre-stars because you are always afraid of crashing them! They don't turn so quickly. You are always thinking 'can I make this turn?' But I think they are very beautiful boats and they are a challenge."

Having competitors coming from all over the globe to race in Bermuda is a boost for women's match racing, said Lewin.

"It is nice to get people from all around the world. It builds a lot more interest in women's match racing ? it gets the word out."

Lewin said she believed that most of the women coming to Bermuda sailed bigger boats most of the time. "I don't think you will find that many of them compete in dinghies (like the Yngling)."

The women will be racing for the Cruiser Squadron Bowl Trophy.

Every team in the Cicada International Women's Match Racing Championship will take home some of the $25,000 prize money this year. With the 2004 increase, first place now takes $8,000, second $4,050, third $3,400, fourth $2,900, fifth $2,400, sixth $1,900, seventh $1,400 and eighth $950.

The match racing is set in Hamilton Harbour just off the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Spokesman for the championships, Talbot Wilson, said: "The harbour course is a perfect venue for shore-side spectators, with commentary provided by match race expert and voice of many America's Cup competitions, Peter Montgomery."

The event will consist of two stages. The first stage is a preliminary round robin. Stage two is a semi-final and final knock-out series decided by the first team to score two points.

The Organising Authority may change the format, terminate or eliminate any round, when conditions do not permit the completion of the intended format. Courses will consist of windward/leeward legs with starboard roundings and a downwind finish.