From her earliest days, Paula Lewin has always been one to accept a challenge with open arms.

This week has been no different as she engages in a fierce battle with Sunfish ace Donny Martinborough at International Race Week.

The recent bronze medal winner at the Pan American Games in Argentina has proven to be a thorn in the side of the Bahamas native Martinborough, a former world champion and multiple Race Week winner who has ruled the class for what seems like decades.

Martinborough has thus far gotten the best of the match, notching three first place finishes to start the week before falling to second place in Tuesday's second race, while Lewin has to her credit three seconds and a lone bullet.

Still, with two races left Lewin was optimistic of being able to defeat her chief rival and add yet another accolade to her collection that has grown rapidly over the past year.

"I would have liked to have won the second race so that we'd be even right now, but we're very close,'' said Lewin.

"And then I was over the line early in the third race and had to re-start which also set me back.

"But I know it's possible for me to win the next two and I just have to go out there and sail well.

"He's (Martinborough) a very good sailor, very smart and I just need to be that much smarter on the course and probably more aggressive with my starts.'' However, while the pair stand as enemies on the water the opposite is true when they reach the shore.

Lewin rates Martinborough as a good friend, one she admires and respects for both his ability and character.

"We're rivals on the water, but friends afterward, we'll come in and have a few beers at the bar and can talk to each other about what's gone on,'' she said.

Not unnoticed is the fact that Lewin is the lone female competitor.

However, her lithe frame and femininity belie a courageous heart, desire and ability that most males would do well to duplicate.

She has been involved in a sport long dominated by men, one that is often unforgiving to the body, but still she marches on.

And not only has she merely competed, she has thrived and continues to do just that.

"I don't feel special being a woman among men...but I do surprise people,'' said Lewin.

"You know I've always been the only woman, I feel right at home with the guys and it really doesn't bother me.

"Once you have the ability, (gender) means little and I don't even think about it.'' On a lean day where only the J24 class was in action, American George Desrosiers took advantage of the stormy air conditions to close the gap considerably on runaway leader and countryman John Alofsin.

As Alofsin sat out the morning race due to equipment problems, Desrosiers sailed to his first win of the week, crossing the line ahead of Peter Milnes and Bob Lynch and into first overall -- excluding a dropped result.

However, Alofsin, who had taken the top spot in three of the previous four races, returned to again head the fleet during the afternoon race, retaking the lead position heading into the final two races scheduled for today.