sloop Hot Glue Gun in the inaugural Charleston to Bermuda Race.

In a communique to race headquarters at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club yesterday morning, the race leader said his estimated time of arrival was Friday night "... or next week.'' Scully reported that conditions were so calm overnight that he and crew Robbie Freeman had only managed to travel some 30 miles in the approximately 20 hours since the previous transmission, race spokesman Dan Dickison said last night.

That left the front-runners about 190 miles -- a full day's sail in breezy conditions -- east of Bermuda. A more likely ETA now appears to be Saturday morning.

The conditions were in contrast to the gale-force winds that pounded the five-boat fleet after it left South Carolina on Sunday.

Although the light winds now affecting Hot Glue Gun are creating anxious moments ashore for those awaiting competitors, there's a chance that this change may, in the words of Dickison, "make it more of a horse race.'' As of Wednesday afternoon, David Browder's 40-foot Wahoo sat within striking distance, some 60 miles astern of Scully. According to race committee co-chairman Tripp Fellabom "while Hot Glue Gun is becalmed, Wahoo may be able to close the gap if they can take advantage of any breeze in their vicinity.'' There has been no contact from Wahoo since Wednesday although it is estimated the boat holds a solid second place ahead of John Bramley's Nakoni , Joe Alley's Snow Squall and Russell Bridgham's Spindthrift .