Cup, continues to perform well with the Women's World Championship Regatta in Denmark as her current stage.

Competing in the Europe Dinghy Class against the best women sailors in the world, the local ace stood 52nd out of 124 competitors after six races.

Lewin's standing was affected by a debated disqualification in race five, her second of the regatta.

That outing saw Lewin amongst the leaders the entire way and cross the finish line eighth only to be stripped of the placing because of a safety violation.

The boat's mast step lock -- a rope holding the mast -- was deemed to be too loose by race officials.

If not for that dubious decision, Lewin would have been 16th heading into today's seventh and final race after rebounding well to place 10th in race six.

Lewin's first four results read 22nd, disqualified, 25th and 48th as the weather wreaked havoc among the fleet.

Ominous storm clouds, constant wind shifts and rain have taken some real adjusting to by Lewin and the other competitors and she admitted that she "should be doing a lot better.'' An example of the unpredictability of the conditions came on the third day when Lewin, an Olympian in 1992, produced a fantastic start before tacking onto port.

Unfortunately, she got punched out in eight-knot breezes, which kept going the entire beat and Lewin wound up 70th at the first windward mark.

It resulted in Lewin's 48th-place finish in race four.

Many protested the unfair shift, but these cries went unanswered by the committee.

PAULA LEWIN.