conditions, skippers were told in a briefing last night.

Herb Hilgenberg, an expert on Atlantic weather conditions, said the rapidly dissipating tropical depression Arlene was now "not an issue.'' And Hilgenberg, who will be broadcasting daily weather forecast updates to all contestants via short-side band radio, pointed out factors which could lead to fast times for the most skillful navigators.

Northeasterly winds of around 15 knots should set the boats on their way out of Buzzard's Bay today, predicted Hilgenberg.

He presented the skippers with heat-sensitive infra-red satellite photographs, showing a clockwise-moving warm eddy shooting off the north edge of the Gulf Stream.

If boats managed to catch the eastern edge of it, they could get a significant boost to their speed.

Hilgenberg warned that wind speeds could increase to around 25 knots over the Gulf Stream itself before the fleet passes through a warm front. Then winds will shift to south easterly at 10-15 knots.

Around 100 miles north of Bermuda Hilgenberg advised skippers to watch out for a warm current moving south at around 1.5 knots, which could give the boats a final push.