Paula Lewin's early confirmation of an Olympic berth could well be an untold advantage next year.

Out of a 15-strong Yngling fleet, the Bermudian is one of just two skippers who have already qualified for the 2004 Olympiad in Greece competing on the Olympic course in the upcoming Athens 2003 Regatta (Pre-Olympic test).

Apart from Lewin and her Greek counterpart, all the representatives of the other 13 countries participating in this event are yet to qualify for the Olympics as their respective nations have not yet held their trials.

Therefore, completely different crews could end up competing for those countries in the Yngling at the Summer Games.

"The USA sent a team that qualified for this event this year but they may not be the ones who actually go to the Olympics because their Olympic trials aren't completed.

"It may pan out that whoever is here may not win their (Olympic) trials. That would be a benefit to us because those competitors (coming to the Olympics) would not have sailed it (the course)," explained Lewin who is set to begin her Pre-Olympic quest next Monday.

The overall competition runs from tomorrow (August 14) to August 28, involving 11 boat classes. The Island's other leading sailor, Peter Bromby, will compete in the Star class.

Lewin, who qualified for the Olympics last year, is aiming to cap a successful stint in Greece, having just placed third out of 13 competitors in the Greek National Championships.

"That was a great warm-up. Now we're taking off a week until the Pre-Olympics and we're training," said the 32-year-old.

Though terming it "a test for next year", Lewin made no bones about her desire to win the Pre-Olympic regatta and not simply use it for training.

"We're going to try and win this one for sure. We have been working together for the last month and we feel good. We're building on our team strength and looking at our weaknesses. We're ready for this event and we want to try and win it."

Her recent move up the world rankings is a welcome boost to Lewin and her crew (twin sister Peta Lewin and Carola Cooper). They see it as an endorsement of their performances.

"We are pleased. Everybody (all the top Yngling skippers) is pretty much sailing full-time so if we move up in the world rankings, it's a reflection that we're doing well. It's a positive sign.

"But we don't watch it (the rankings) constantly. Because you're number one in the world does not necessarily mean you're going to win an event," cautioned the Bermudian.

After Greece, she and her crew head to Cadiz, Spain, for the World Championships and then close their season in the USA by participating in the prestigious Women's Rolex in Annapolis, Maryland.

Lewin placed third at the last Rolex regatta four years ago.