It's finally arrived, the day of reckoning for Bermuda's four Olympic sailors.

After years of preparation, Star class duo Peter Bromby and Lee White along with Malcolm Smith (Laser) and Paula Lewin (Europe dinghy) sail out into Wassaw Sound this morning desperate to launch their Olympic campaign with solid performances in what will be the first two races of a week-long 11-race series.

But first, they'll be hoping for a dramatic improvement on yesterday's weather when a terrifying electric storm sent the entire fleet scurrying for cover mid-way through the final series of practice races, forcing organisers to abandon competition.

Bermuda's quartet, much the same as the rest of the 400-plus sailors gathered in this southern Georgia tourist resort, had been attempting to put the final touches to their preparation in light and fluky winds of six to eight knots.

The Star class race committee had twice postponed the last practice race and were finally attempting to start competition after a two and three quarter of an hour delay when a fierce squall swept across the Sound.

Suddenly lightning lit up the sky and the wind gusted to over 25 knots, tossing some of the craft out of control. Several crews fought to lower their sails rather than risk further damage. Bromby and White, along with the remainder of the Star fleet, eventually headed back to the day marina as did most of the other classes.

The forecast for today appeared more favourable.

And that should be good news for the four Bermudians who have relished sailing in the 12-14 knot winds that have prevailed throughout much of their training here over the past month. However, Bermuda's national sailing coach, Chuck Millican, is adamant that the team, particularly Bromby and White, need to position themselves well in today's opening races if a shot at the medals is to become reality this time next week.

"Tomorrow's a very important day for all of our sailors,'' said Millican as he hurried onto the bus/boat shuttle which carries competitors and coaches on an hour-long journey from Savannah out to the day marina. "Today's practice race and the previous practice races really mean nothing.'' Asked whether he believed Bromby and White to be among the medal favourites, Millican replied: "We really won't know that until after the first races.

We'll have a much better idea when they come off the water tomorrow.

"The reality is you have to get off to a good start, particularly in this kind of regatta. That's vitally important for all of our sailors.'' Certainly, Bromby and White have little to fear. Their build-up, particularly in recent weeks, has produced some pleasing performances and there's nobody in the 25-country fleet they haven't previously encountered and beaten.

Defending Olympic champions Mark Reynolds and Hal Haenel of the US might be considered the favourites but Canada's Ross MacDonald and Eric Jespersen, Australia's Colin Beashel and David Giles, Denmark's Michael Hestbaek and Martin Heijlsberg, New Zealand's Rod Davis and Donald Cowie and Italians Enrico Chieffi and Roberto Sinibaldi all fancy their chances.

Lewin, meanwhile, is also familiar with just about all of her rivals in the Europe Dinghy class. And while she snatched a bronze medal at the Pan-Am Games last year in Argentina, that was among a fleet of just six sailors. Here in Savannah, the competition is far more formidable with 28 of the world's top women expected on this morning's start line.

Two-time world champion Kristine Roug of Denmark, America's Cup star Courtenay Becker-Dey, and Brazilian Marcia Pellicano, gold medallist at the Pan-Ams, will all be considered strong contenders.

But like Bromby and White, Lewin has come a long way since Argentina and will be bouyed in the knowledge that she's beaten both Becker-Dey and Pellicano during her travels to regattas around Europe and North America.

Smith, a five-time Bermuda national Laser champion, is perhaps the least likely to succeed in a huge fleet of 56. But he will at least feel more comfortable than in Argentina last year where, on choppy seas with the wind constantly gusting over 20 knots, he struggled to 14th place in a much smaller entry.

Thunder, lightning and driving rain also put a damper on Savannah's own opening ceremonies on Saturday. Still weary from the long, drive back from the Games' main opening ceremony on Friday night, the Olympic sailors endured a one-hour delay as rain flooded the River Street arena. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the drenched athletes eventually looked on as local sailor Brian Foster carried the flame which lit the Olympic cauldron.

YESTERDAY: Final practice races for the Island's four sailors were abandoned because of thunderstorms.

TODAY: Peter Bromby/Lee White (Star Class) -- first race 2 p.m.; second race 4 p.m.

Paula Lewin (Europe Dinghy Class) -- first race 2 p.m.; second race 4 p.m..

Malcolm Smith (Laser Class) - first race 2 p.m.; second race 4 p.m.

ELSEWHERE: World records were set in the pool and in weightlifting. Complete Games coverage, Page 23.