If all goes well there will be another coronation for Andreas Lewin and the crew of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's prized dinghy Contest on September 10.

And it was with supreme optimism that Lewin looked forward to the club's upcoming defence of the Coronation Cup that signifies the Island's top dinghy.

The season is scheduled to start on Wednesday in St. George's Harbour with three races on tap after an off-season of upgrades to the boats by the various syndicates.

"Our preparation has gone very well, we have essentially the same crew as last year, with one exception and that's in the weight department,'' explained Lewin, entering his third year as skipper after taking over the tiller from Hughie Watlington.

"We've been out practising once a week and I think we'll be able to pick up from where we left off last year.'' That would be a heavy load, since after floundering about the middle of the fleet for much of the season, Contest finished in a flurry, much like those unexpected squalls which often besiege the craft on race day.

Over the final three weeks -- six races -- of last season Lewin never sailed lower than second and pointed to the maturation of his crew as the main reason for the success.

"The key certainly, I feel, is in the crew,'' said Lewin, also one of the Island's top Laser II sailors. "All the boats are competitive and it comes down to the experience, talent and how the crew works together.

"That's what separates the winners from the losers and that's what we have.

Each of our crew has experience, knows their role and we all get along fine.

"Those are three positive things about us that are crucial to any success.'' Just one change has taken place in this year's crew, with Richard Boyle, whose main duty was to provide extra weight on board, being replaced by David Kendall. Returning members include Christian Luthi (main-sheet/tactician), Kees VanBeelen (jib) and Robert Burkhart and Roger Mello (back-stay).

Lewin admitted that it would be difficult defending the title, but was not yet feeling the full pressure of mounting the defence.

"There may be a little pressure, but last year, even though we were not the defending champions, we were the favourites and that put pressure on us,'' he said. "Everybody is out to get us, we know what to expect and we're prepared for it.

"We've been out practising, everyone is keen and basically we're ready to go and come out firing on all cylinders.'' But while confident in his own ability and that of his crew, Lewin was still wary of all of the five challengers, each looking to unseat Contest from their perch.

Lewin said Elizabeth and Port Royal -- both of which made great strides last season after toiling among the lower reaches in previous years -- "are very hungry''.

Meanwhile, he also noted the potential of the Somerset entries Echo and Challenger , which slipped last year in what was a rebuilding year for each.

The other craft, Victory of St. George's Dinghy and Sports Club, has also undergone a near complete overhaul and enters the season shrouded in mystery as to its capabilities.

NO CONTEST -- Andreas Lewin, holding tiller, is hoping that he and his Contest crew can once again enjoy smooth sailing this season.