Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin's Olympic campaigns should be sailing a bit smoother thanks to a financial fillip from a special fund.

The two Bermudians are among 14 sailors worldwide to be granted scholarships by Olympic Solidarity Athens 2004 to assist their training and participation in events in preparation for next summer's Games in Greece.

"It's fantastic," declared Bromby, reacting to the news which was confirmed to him earlier this year but only made public this week.

"It certainly will make training more affordable and allow us to put in more time to the boat and more time in practice.

"We're both governed by how much time we can spend away from work. The more successful our fund-raising is, the more time away from work we can have."

This boost adds to the Star Class competitor's already great start to 2003. In February, he won the Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta and followed that up with his second victory in the Bacardi Cup in three years. He was also voted Bermuda's Male Athlete of the Year for 2002.

"Olympic Solidarity considers applications received, which are then approved in each country based on the potential of the applying athlete, the number of applicants across the sports in that country and the total number of applicants from that country.

"Depending on the application made by the sailor, and where he/she wishes to train, effects the scholarship funding offered," explained a statement by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

Bromby said the awards came about thanks to a lot of work by the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) and the Bermuda Sailing Association (BSA) who "worked behind the scenes to make this happen".

On Lewin's and his own behalf, he expressed gratitude to both organisations for their instrumental roles in securing the scholarships.

"It's quite an honour to be chosen. You can imagine how many people are out there preparing for the Olympics and I think for Paula and I to be selected as worthy candidates speaks highly for where they think we're going," noted the 38-year-old.

While not disclosing the scholarship value, he acknowledged "it's a considerable amount of money".

"It's certainly not - by any means - the end all but it will help what we have already done. In terms of fund-raising, it helps dramatically."

The two, who will get quarterly lump sums between now and the Olympics, should soon receive their first tranches from the fund.

Lewin - a Yngling specialist - is currently on an extended training stint in North America and Europe while Bromby is getting ready for next week's US Olympic Pre-Trials in Florida, USA.

Bromby has been in the top ten of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings for the past two years, claiming the number two spot at the end of August last year. He is currently ranked fifth in the world but his recent successes are expected to propel him up the rankings.

Lewin is currently ranked 27th on the ISAF women's World Match Race Rankings and seventh in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings in the Yngling Class. The 31-year-old is Bermuda's Female Athlete of the Year for 2002.