A trio of Bermudian women sailors were yesterday celebrating and boasting bragging rights as they became the first Islanders to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Subject to ratification, twins Paula and Peta Lewin, with Carola Cooper as crew, booked their places in the Yngling class competition in Athens, Greece, by finishing fourth in the Yngling Championships in Brunnen, Switzerland. The top five teams qualified for the next Olympics.

"I am thrilled. Our goal was to qualify Bermuda in this event this summer and we've done it. There are only 15 (Olympic) spots available so this is a big deal," declared skipper Paula, speaking to The Royal Gazette by phone yesterday.

What's more remarkable about the achievement is that this sailing combination only got together two months ago.

"We tried a number of people as crew but it didn't work out and it was only in late May that Carola joined us. Other teams (in Switzerland) couldn't believe it," said Paula, also crediting their coach, Canadian Lawrence Lemieux, for guiding them in their quest.

The celebrations might have been even bigger had the threesome not faltered in the competition's final race.

"We could have won the event but we had a poor last race (18th out of 45 boats in that race) but we're still very happy."

Paula, who represented Bermuda in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics in the Europe Dinghy class, said qualifying this early changed "the whole focus of our game".

"We know we can win a medal and, now we have qualified, we can go ahead and put everything into it."

The Bermudians thanked their sponsors Ace Limited, noting that such sporting pursuits are extremely costly and beyond most competitors' personal means.

"Without them Bermuda wouldn't be going to the Olympics. They have given us the opportunity to be here," noted Paula.