NEWPORT, Rhode Island -- Bermuda's three boats will be among the first to cross the start line this afternoon when the 38th Newport to Bermuda Race gets under way off Breton Reef Tower.

Nicholas Dill's Dilightful and Eldon Trimigham's Escape will go off first with the rest of the Cruising Division boats, while Colin Couper's Vivace will be close behind them with the small Class E Racing Division vessels.

But, with Class A maxis like 1990 winner Boomerang hot on their heels, the Bermuda contingent do not expect to be setting the pace for long.

A frontal system, which could make for a rough voyage will be following the 118-strong fleet and is expected to overhaul all but the faster-moving yachts.

"I don't think we'll stay ahead of it,'' said Couper after last night's skippers' meeting at the Marriott Hotel on America's Cup Avenue. "It probably won't catch Boomerang but it will catch us.'' Weather expert Dane Clark of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told the assembled skippers and navigators that a cold front coming in from the west could bring thunderstorms and showers today, with winds increasing to as much as 30 knots.

"Generally it looks pretty favourable if you can keep ahead of the front,'' said Clark. "Otherwise, there's a very good chance of squally weather.'' Another weather briefing is scheduled for this morning to give racers as up-to-date a picture as possible.

Gulf Stream expert Jennifer Clark warned the skippers of the various currents and eddies to be avoided en route to Bermuda. "These currents can reach up to seven knots and have pushed people way off course,'' she said.

Commodore of the Cruising Club of America Jack Merrill opened last night's meeting by wishing everyone a good sail. "It would be nice if there could be a massive tie for first,'' he said, "but I hope there is a massive tie for second.'' Merrill is sailing in the Cruising Division along with his old pal Trimingham on board Escape .

Trimingham's boat is all set for this afternoon's race and Dill has sorted out the problems that were plaguing him earlier in the week.

Couper, too, is raring to go having arrived here on Tuesday evening.

"Everything's in great shape and we're all ready for the starting gun,'' he said.

The Bermuda boats' preparation for today's race has been carried out away from the spotlight while most of the attention has been focussed on Merrythought and skipper Jack King from Annapolis who raced to four straight victories in the Onion Patch Series for the DuPont Trophy.

King's winning start has given him the jump on the Onion Patch opposition and boosted his confidence for the big event, but anything can happen during the 635-mile voyage to Bermuda as he and his crew are well aware.

In 1990, Merrythought saw the chance of victory slip away after becoming becalmed in sight of the finish off St. David's. She had to settle for third place in Class A.

However, with her string of impressive wins here this week, the 62-foot Frers sloop could be the one to watch this year.

While Merrythought is well out in front in the race for individual Onion Patch honours, a team representing the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club leads the Onion Patch Trophy Series going into today's race.

But the three-boat team of Gold Digger , Bully and Brigadoon VI includes no locals. James Bishop from New York, Robert Tetrault from Portland, and Robert Morton from here in Newport are the respective skippers.

"I would like to thank the Onion Patch team representing Bermuda,'' said Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore John Thompson at last night's meeting.

Thompson promised a warm welcome for all the racers who arrive in Bermuda next week. "I will be waiting there with lots of parties,'' he said.

Today's race gets under way at 2 p.m. Bermuda time, with the first boats expected to arrive in Bermuda on Monday.