race which starts this Friday.

Paul Hubbard was the first of four Bermuda skippers to arrive in Marion last Friday following a hair-raising five and a half day trip on his yacht Tonka .

According to Faith Paulsen, executive race secretary, Hubbard endured stormy conditions for much of the voyage.

Several boats were scheduled to arrive in Marion over the weekend including Bermuda's other three representatives, Buddy Rego in Tsunami , Colin Couper in Vivace and Derek Ratteray in Alida .

Some 84 boats are expected on Friday's start line off Buzzard's Bay.

Paulsen noted there had been five late withdrawals including the Toronto-based boat To Windward , which struck a submerged object while sailing down the Eerie canal, damaging the engine and other parts of the boat.

The Marion-Bermuda race was to have been the first leg of a year-long sailing trip for skipper Geoffrey Zimmerman and his family.

This Thursday evening at the Taber Academy, skippers will be given their final race briefing and an update on the weather forecast.

Twenty one of the boats have indicated they will rely on electronic navigation while the remainder will use the celestial method. The fleet is decided into six classes -- A to F -- and handicapped accordingly.