Paula Lewin continued her Olympic build-up with a creditable showing in the Yngling class of Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week which finished yesterday in Spain.

Official results placed the Bermudian champion eighth out of 15 competitors with 38 points. However, there seemed to be a discrepancy in the standings as Lewin's seven finishes (including one drop) totalled 33 which would have earned her seventh spot.

British sailor Shirley Robertson (gold medallist in the 2000 Olympics in Europe dinghy class) won the event with the low total of 17 while Russia's Ekaterina Skoudina was second on 21. Monica Azon of Spain and Frenchwoman Anne Le Helley tied for third on 23.

Lewin finished in the top ten in six races (7th, 9th, 4th, 3rd, 4th and 6th) but recorded an over early in her second race.

The event was a learning experience for the Island's Female Athlete of the Year for 2002 and her crew - twin sister Peta, and Carola Cooper - who flew in early to prepare with their coach, Larry Lemieux. They sailed in unfamiliar and challenging conditions, especially on the second day when there were blustery winds and very big waves.

"Some of the waves must have been 15 feet," said Lewin, reflecting on that day. "These are probably our least practised conditions and our results reflect this.

"There are very few regattas that we go to where we are sail"There are very few regattas that we go to where we are sailing in a body of water that is so deep. When the wind blows here, swell develops very quickly."

She noted that in the day's first race (second race overall) they were called over early though their coach, who was at the pin, was certain they had a good start. In their third race, they knew they were over early and restarted.

"Despite this obvious setback. We sailed well and caught up from last to ninth place. The result wasn't fabulous, but we were pleased to be sailing better in the unfamiliar conditions."

The fourth race reflected that the team was improving their technique in the rough seas. The wind was also lighter and therefore more familiar.

"We ended up fourth in a very close finish. It was an exciting race because the lead changed so many times. Over the windward mark, it was the New Zealand team ahead, then we led on the second leeward mark, then Russia took over on the third, and ultimately won. It was an enjoyable race," said the 31-year-old skipper.

Amid trying to get a grasp of the tricky conditions on day two, Cooper - the team's middle woman - suffered a bout of seasickness because of the huge swells and rough seas.

"There were big swells rolling in from the ocean. I just got really nauseous, a pounding headache, and had a hard time concentrating.

"I went really quiet because I was about to throw up," recalled Cooper who could not eat all day and ended up losing energy which compounded her weakness.

"She could still pull the main in," noted Lewin "but she lost the joy of competition. You don't have the energy to put in 100 percent."

Throughout the regatta, Lemieux and the team reviewed video footage of each day's sailing with him pinpointing their weaknesses and strengths and offering tips on how to improve. He also highlighted what their rivals were doing well and gave examples of how to anticipate what they would do.