Fears over Tropical Storm Alberto?s influence over one of the largest fleets ever to sail an ocean race were alleviated yesterday.

Early forecasts had the best part of 3,000 sailors scurrying for the latest meteorological data as the first named storm of the 2006 hurricane season threatened to cross the rhumb line within hours of Friday?s Newport-Bermuda Race start.

But yesterday?s updated predictions show Alberto ? which caused flooding and evacuations in Cuba over the weekend before hitting Florida on Monday ? has picked up speed and should be comfortably past Rhode Island by the time the 280-plus vessels massing for the centennial Newport-Bermuda Race have set sail.

?The forecasts are looking better now as the storm has picked up speed moving towards the north-east and should be out the way,? confirmed race spokesman Talbot Wilson.

?The race was delayed for two days in 1982 for a hurricane, so there is a precedent for dealing with bad weather ? we are all still keeping an eye on the storm?s progress but we are not too concerned at this stage.

?If there is any change, race organisers will take into account the safety of the boats and the crew before making any decisions on delaying the race.?

Excitement is building at both ends of the 635-mile route with record entries and a number of celebrity sailors due to take part in the centennial race.

Newport is fast filling up with berths, hotel beds and elbow room at many of the coastal town?s buzzing bars becoming increasingly hard to come by.

The best part of 3,000 participants and officials will be heading to Bermuda in what is being hailed as the largest sports tourism event in history ? projected to be worth at least $6 million to the Island?s economy.

Seven Bermuda-based boats are taking part including Robert Mulderig?s ? with former Olympic sailor Kirk Cooper competing in his 23rd Newport-Bermuda Race aboard ? as well as Colin Couper?s which for the third time sees Governor Sir John Vereker among the crew.

New for this year?s centennial race, which sees a large number of former winners and participants return to action, is the groundbreaking new iBoat tracking system, which allows media, friends, family and spectators to follow the position of each vessel over the Internet while HRH the Princess Royal will be jetting into Bermuda next week for the event?s prizegiving.