last-minute crew change when Starr Trail's Tom Wadson was forced out.

He was replaced by Rob Moore, a friend of owner/captain Robert Mulderig.

*** THE Bermudian with the most Newport-Bermuda Races under his belt? That probably is Roger Mello, who yesterday embarked on his 12th voyage as a crew member aboard Alix , owned by Lewis Wallner, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, but a member of the RBYC.

There was a slight concern that Alix might not make the big race because of a damaged mast, suffered in the wicked storm that marked the first Onion Patch race on Saturday, but she was at the start line yesterday.

*** ANYONE conditioned to the ubiquitous sight of scooter and cycle riders on Bermuda roads is in for a shock upon arriving in Newport.

Incredibly popular now that summer is here are powerful racing bikes and cruisers twice the size of their owners -- both invariably driven by men wearing no helmets. In seemingly contradictory pieces of legislation, car drivers must wear seat belts but motorcyclists are not required to don helmets.

*** FOR the first time, daily position reports from the race will be available to anyone with a computer.

In a switch from previous years, all boats will be required to report their positions at 6.00 a.m. each morning and the information will then be transferred to the RBYC's web page at www.rbyc.bm/newportfinlog.

*** A SENTIMENTAL favourite is Mistress , the 60-foot schooner re-appearing in the race after a string of successes in the 1930 through 1954 races.

She was built in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, in 1930 and as of 1958 never even had an engine. The original owner and skipper was George Roosevelt of Oyster Bay, a CCA member; the boat's present owner is Glen McCormick of Key West, Florida.

*** THE financial importance of the Newport-Bermuda Race to Bermuda's economy can be underlined by the appearance of Gary Phillips, Director of Tourism, at Thursday night's Captains' Meeting.

The race has been estimated to be worth some $6 million to Island merchants, restaurants and hoteliers. And while Phillips wasn't so crass as to tell the skippers to make sure they, their crew and family bring lots of cash with them, he did urge them to "make sure you land in Bermuda and not the Azores or Bahamas.'' *** WHILE the 162 entries in the race are not a record, their total length is.

Cruising Club of America race chairman Nick Schaus points out that boats represent 7,982 linear feet -- or more than a half-mile if stretched end to end. The biggest boat in the fleet is the 126-foot Parlay but by far the most impressive sight are the five striking new 70-foot maxis using the race as part of their IMS World Championship. They look like they're moving even when tied up at the dock.

*** IS it number 41 or 42? Contrary to what another publication calls it, this is in fact the 41st sailing of the Newport-Bermuda Race, officials from the co-hosts insist.

*** THIS intrepid reporter learned a valuable lesson when talking with Dr. Colin Couper on the docks this week: Always attach your sunglasses to a string around your neck.

Otherwise, all it takes is one quick glance skyward to send new $100 Ray-Bans tumbling into the depths of cold, murky Newport Harbour. According to one local, a scuba diver in town ends up with a quite a collection of valuables that he ultimately re-sells at the end of the summer.

*** THINGS can get kind of, er, ripe in the cramped quarters of many of the yachts.

Weight being such an important consideration, most skippers are bringing only enough water for drinking, cooking and flushing. That means no showers for the typical crew of say a dozen people on board a 50-foot vessel.

Most skippers also have a system of two sets of shifts, alternating every four hours -- sometimes less at night. Blair Simmons, watch captain aboard Starr Trail says crew have to work much harder at night, straining to see and hear instruments, other boats and changing weather conditions.