Paula Lewin and Malcolm Smith got a first bite of the Olympic action yesterday and it might have left a bitter-sweet taste in their mouths.

Lewin rebounded superbly from a disappointing first race, while Smith also made a significant improvement.

But after two races both find themselves in the wrong half of the standings.

Pan-Am Games bronze medallist in Argentina a year ago, Lewin quickly discovered the 28-strong Europe dinghy fleet here in Savannah to be a much tougher proposition as she could manage no better than 20th in her opening race.

But as the wind picked up for the second race, so did her performance as she made the most of a fast start to place ninth right behind American favourite Courtenay Becker-Day, who had won the first race. Lewin now stands 16th overall.

Smith, a five-time Bermuda Laser champion, competing in the largest fleet of any class in these Olympics -- 56 boats -- struggled to 42nd in his opening race before posting a 30th in the second, which could have been much better had he not incurred a costly penalty near the end. He now lies 39th overall.

Both Bermudians appeared tired as they stepped onto the marina last night after conditions in Wassaw Sound had grown increasingly uncomfortable throughout the afternoon. But Lewin couldn't disguise a smile of satisfaction.

"I'm really pleased with the second race,'' she said. "It was a windy one and I hung in, and it turned out great.

"I'm disappointed with the first though. I would have liked to have had another `keeper'. I guess I'll have to throw that one out and that's not a good way to start any regatta.

"I got a really good start in the second race. I seem to go well in the breeze. I'm a light girl and it's tough to beat some of the bigger girls. But I don't mind, I like these waves.'' Smith admitted he was somewhat surprised on learning of his 42nd placing in the first race.

"I didn't think I was that far back'', he said. "I really wanted to finish in the top half, but I got caught on the wrong side of the course and I think that's where I lost a lot of the fleet.

"I've still got some more work to do to get my speed up, particularly downwind.'' Of the penalty in the second race, Smith said: "I was going really well and was about 400 yards from the finish when I got yellow-flagged. I had to do a `720' and lost about four or five boats. I guess the committee thought that I was working the boat too much... too much bodywork. Everybody seemed to be doing it, but I was to windward and they got me.'' Leading the Laser fleet after the first day is Norway's Peter Moberg who put together a first and sixth for seven points. He's followed by four sailors on 10 points -- Portugal's Vasco Serpa, Brazil's Robert Scheidt, John Harryson of Sweden and Michael Blackburn of Australia.

In the Europe dinghies, two-time world champion Kristine Roug of Denmark is in a familiar position, leading with three points after a second and first.

Becker-Day follows with nine and Great Britain's Shirley Robertson lies third with 10.

SPLASH DOWN -- Defending champions Marc Reynolds and Hal Haenel hold off New Zealand in action from the Olympic Star class race. The Americans are in second place, while Bermuda's Peter Bromby and Lee White sit 12th.