Ancient methods of navigation were up against modern in this year's 12th Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race.

For the first time in the 22-year history of the biennial race organisers split competitors into two classes -- celestial and electronic navigation.

Many veterans of the race stuck with old-style celestial navigation, while the majority of newcomers went for the electronic mode.

Of the 103 boats in the race fleet, 54 were using electronic equipment, which enabled them to know to use satellite technology to constantly update their exact position.

The other 49 went for celestial methods, using a sextant, charts and the stars to map their progress.

Five of the boats were Bermuda-based, four were US Naval Academy boats, one from Montana and the rest were from New England and the eastern seaboard.

In the 1997 race, celestial navigators were given a three percent time bonus against those using electronic aids for the whole race distance, but this time there were two separate divisions.

Bermudian skipper Warren Brown, competing on his yacht War Baby was not tempted to enter the electronic class.

"The main advantage of using electronic navigation is that you know exactly where you are all the time and you know when you should get out of the current,'' said 69-year-old Brown before the start of the race.

"Even then, if you're not experienced, it probably wouldn't help you much. It will only be a help to those who are already skilled navigators.

"But I have sailed on the Gulf Stream so many times, it probably wouldn't make much difference to me.'' In his long sailing career, Brown has sailed the Marion-to-Bermuda race only once before, in 1989, when he broke the long course record with a time of 72-and-a-half hours.

In 1993, another Bermudian Kirk Cooper broke the record with his boat Alphida , but that was over the new, shorter course, so Brown's record still stands.

And he said he enjoyed the unique, friendly nature of the race, free of a ruthless competitive edge.

"It is quite a different atmosphere. The reception you get at Marion is warmer and more welcoming than Newport, for example, and I think most sailors would agree with that,'' added Brown.

"My boat is heavy by today's standards and we hope to get windward work. I wouldn't say we're hoping for heavy weather -- I don't think anyone enjoys sailing in that -- more like mixed and medium weather.'' -- Jonathan Kent At the start: Marion-to-Bermuda Race entrants motor out to the starting line in Buzzards Bay from Marion, Massachusetts.

And they're off: Bermuda's Tsunami, owned by Buddy Rego, sets off with Babe, owned by Bermuda's Colin Couper at the start of the Marion-to-Bermuda Race.

Babe was the first Bermuda yacht across the line and the fifth overall.

SAILING SLG