Bermudian skipper Paul Hubbard was yesterday in a race against time to get his boat ready for tomorrow's scheduled start of the Marion-Bermuda cruising Yacht Race.

His 43-foot vessel Bermuda Oyster has been in Marion for the past three weeks awaiting urgent repairs from local firm Burr Brothers.

But according to Hubbard, the repairers have been slow to complete the work, which was mainly the installation of new electronic equipment and a water heater.

Bermuda Oyster was still with Burr Brothers yesterday morning, just 52 hours before the race was due to start from Buzzard's Bay, off the south coast of Massachusetts.

The situation has left the skipper and his crew of five with little time to test the new equipment at sea before they undertake the 640-mile crossing to Bermuda.

Hubbard, who is staying with hosts in Marion, said: "I took it to Burr Brothers three weeks ago and they have nothing special to do, really.

"The water heater broke and some of the electronics needed mending and I had new parts shipped in from England. And the gooseneck has fractured on the boon.'' Hubbard planned to take out the boat for trials yesterday afternoon, but still had other things to get done, too.

"I need to pick up a new life raft and buy a new second anchor,'' he added.

Hubbard will sail with his regular Bermudian crew of Gary Venning, Peter Haines, David Mello, Mike Gladwin and English teacher Barbara Ashfield, who used to work on the Island.

Like all the sailors gathering for the race, Hubbard was taking a keen interest in the weather forecast and, in particiular, the progress of tropical storm Arlene.

"No one knows what the storm is going to do,'' he said.

"They say it has the potential to weaken so we'll probably be alright. And if the organisers feel a delay is necessary, they will postpone the start of the race.

"When you hit heavy weather, you either have to run from it or heave to -- it will make things interesting.'' A decision is expected today on whether the race will start on time and skippers will get a detailed briefing this evening on what to expect during the crossing from Atlantic weather expert Herb Hilgenberg.

Arlene's projected path appeared to take her further east of the race route than had been feared earlier.

Race press officer Rich Healey said: "The news is definitely better on the weather but we are still being told there will be 12-foot seas 100 miles away from the centre of the storm and the boats are likely to get north-easterly winds which won't make for the most comfortable sailing.'' Bermudian skipper Buddy Rego, who was yesterday preparing his 41-foot yacht Tsunami for the race, admitted to being a little nervous about Arlene.

"We have to be concerned about it,'' said Rego. "If if throws up some north-easterly winds, it will make it a bumpy ride.

"We have not done anything different with the boat to prepare for heavy weather. Every time we prepare the boat to go out on the ocean, you must prepare for the worst.'' It will be Rego and Tsunami's third Marion race, having finished 16th overall two years ago and first in Class A in 1993. And Rego felt the omen was good for more success this year for him and his crew of navigator Ralph Richardson, Michael Carey, John Thompson, Ken Lamb, Peter Stark, Bob McCutcheon and David Juless.

"We're in a very competitive class, more so than in previous years, I'd say,'' said Rego.

"We have an excellent, experienced crew and most of them have done this race more than once and they are familiar with the boat.

"However, out on the ocean, what you think your chances are and what Mother Nature wants can be very different things.'' For the first time in its 22-year history, the race will feature separate classes for boats using celestial or electronic navigation. Rego has opted to go electronic.