As has so often been the case, Bermuda?s hopes in a major regatta are quickly narrowing down to one skipper ? Paula Lewin.

Defending her International Women?s Match Racing Championship, the skilled sailor and her crew got off to a flying 4-0 start in the round-robin segment of competition on the weekend to head the standings ? the only one of eight crews remaining unbeaten.

?We have had two good days. Yesterday (Saturday) was very windy and I think we had an advantage over the other teams who were still getting used to the boats.

?Today we had two tight races. In fact, we were losing both of them at some point and came back to win. We?re pleased to have won those tight matches and looking forward to tomorrow,? said Lewin, analysing her performance.

?Our crew work has gone well and our tactics are good. Our starts were a little bit off today but we have three races to work on that (starts) tomorrow and we?ll do so.?

The Island?s ambitions of making an impression on this year?s King Edward VII Gold Cup pointed definitively towards Lewin as her male compatriots, Adam Barboza and Blythe Walker faltered in the 16-man Gold Cup qualifier being raced simultaneously in Hamilton Harbour.

Competing in Group One, Barboza left himself a lot of work to do in his last two races this morning after managing just two wins out of five matches so far.

However, all is not entirely lost should he prevail in his final round-robin encounters ? but it will depend on how others in the group perform. The top three in either group qualify for the Gold Cup.

Unfortunately, Walker ? with a 1-4 win/loss in Group Two ? does not have an outside chance, even if he wins twice today.

Fully aware that all eyes will be on her, Lewin?s main goal now is to top the preliminaries and advance to tomorrow?s semi-finals as the number-one seed, thereby having the luxury of choosing her opponent for a place in the final. The winner and runner-up qualify for the Gold Cup.

Quite surprised by some of the results ? with Americans Betsy Alison and Cory Sertl struggling with 0-4 and 1-3 records respectively ? the 33-year-old was hard pressed to say who poses the toughest challenge. What?s certain is that she will approach today?s races against Klaartje Zuiderbaan of the Netherlands, Frenchwoman Claire Leroy and Sertl with the utmost seriousness.

?Cory has got a rough score and she is a very good sailor so I can?t underestimate her,? said Lewin, partnered by her sisters Megan and Peta, Leatrice Roman and Lisa Neasham.

Barboza, 36, is determined to make the most of his half-chance but noted the competition was almost sewn up.

?It?s difficult to come out of a group of eight when they are only taking three people. I think the top three for our group are sorted out already but we still have an outside chance. We have two more races and hopefully two more wins,? he declared optimistically.

Walker took full responsibility for his team?s ?lacklustre? showing, saying he ?made a couple silly mistakes?.

The 36-year-old is still aiming to end on a positive note with victories today.

Meanwhile, Cameron Appleton of New Zealand would have slept well last night with a perfect 5-0 record in Group One.

Saying they started ?uneasy and shaky?, he credited his success to the fact that he has been sailing in similar boats and is therefore ?used to the manoeuvrability? of the International One Designs (IODs).

In the women?s regatta, Leroy (2-2), Zuiderbaan (3-1) and Italy?s Giulia Conti (3-1) all fancy their chances of reaching the final four. The latter, just aged 18, stated it ?would be a dream? to race against the world?s best match racers if she qualifies for the Gold Cup.

Another woman who could be in the Gold Cup mix is American Elizabeth Kratzig, currently 3-2 in Group Two of the unseeded skippers.