for the start of today's Newport to Bermuda race convened last night for a final meeting where they were provided with information about what is considered the two most crucial factors of the 635-mile ocean race.

What they were told at the session was that weather conditions will feature mostly light winds throughout the race and that the Gulf Stream will be trickier than ever.

That could mean that the smaller boats in the fleet may benefit most of all from the lack of winds, expected to be 10 to 15 knots from the south for the start of the race.

News about the light winds was especially pleasing to at least two Bermuda skippers, Colin Couper ( Vivace ) and Buddy Rego ( Tsunami ).

"What we're hoping will happen is that the bigger boats will obviously get out there ahead of us and slow down and we'll keep moving with the lighter weather,'' said Couper last night. "If the forecast turns out to be true it will be a definite benefit to the smaller boats.'' Kirk Cooper, captain of Alphida , would have preferred windier conditions, but remained upbeat especially since his boat came up with a ninth-place performance after last weekend's Onion Patch races -- in light winds.

"It's going to be light and tough,'' he said. "When we had our first races, that was in light air, we did well. But light air is tough on a 30-ton boat with all these little light speedsters.''