the lead boats yesterday gleefully entered calmer waters during the inaugural Charleston to Bermuda yacht race.

Confronting dangerous gale force winds some 300 miles outside of Bermuda, the lead skippers were relieved as the wind diminished to enable them to set a clear trek to the Island.

The 30-foot sloop Hot Glue Gun, skippered by David Scully, was leading Wahoo by about 60 nautical miles late yesterday afternoon and was expected to reach St. David's early Friday morning. Contacted yesterday, Scully reported to be sailing jibing angles in light wind about 280 miles from the finish line after finally emerging from the strong frontal system that had hammered the fleet for two days.

Earlier communication from the boat had the skipper claiming that the conditions were "wet and wild'' as the double-handed crew spent much of the first two days beating upwind in gale-force conditions.

Most of Tuesday night Scully and crew Robbie Freeman had been surfing along under spinnaker.

Officials here have been in contact with three boats since the fleet left the South Carolina city at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

John Bramley aboard the 42-foot Contest Nakoni made contact with the US Coast Guard in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, late on Tuesday and his brief message indicated that all was well and that he trailed Hot Glue Gun by 85 miles.

Yesterday communication was received from David Browder's 40-foot racer Wahoo , which selected a less advantageous northerly course. However, at the start on Sunday it was Wahoo who jumped out to an early lead, leaving the harbour a mile ahead of Hot Glue Gun .

Wahoo is expected to finish early tomorrow. Nakoni and the remaining boats, Joe Alley's Snow Squall and Russell Bridgham's Spindrift should arrive at the finish line on Saturday afternoon.