BARCELONA -- Peter Bromby goes into today's opening race in the Olympic Star Class sailing competition hoping the elements are kinder to him.

In winds of 3-4 knots at the Port Olympic yesterday, Bromby and crew Paul Fisher were 10th out of the 20 boats that completed the course in the final practice race.

Gold medal favourites Mark Reynolds and Hal Haenel threw down the gauntlet in a fleet including New Zealand's Rod Davis and Canada's Ross McDonald.

Bromby was the top Bermudian sailor all-round as Paula Lewin was given a premature start in the women's Europe Dinghy Class and Blythe Walker and Ray DeSilva did not finish the men's 470 Class. Tornado Class sailors Jay and Reid Kempe did not race.

Nicole Meylan-Leueque of Switzerland was the Europe Dinghy winner yesterday with Spaniard Natalia Vis Dufresne Perena second and Linda Anderson, Norway's controversial replacement for Lewin's tuning partner Karianne Eikland, third.

The men's 470 Class was won by David and Oscar Ramon Borra of Andalucia. Petri Leskinen and Mika Aarnikka of Finland were second and Farokh Tarapore and Cyprus Cama of India third.

Racing begins today at 1.30 p.m. (8.30 a.m. Bermuda time) in all the classes in which Bermudians are involved.