them want to win.

Most of the two-man crews from almost 20 countries will take part in the practice race in the Great Sound -- but folklore has it that coming first signifies bad luck for the tournament proper.

Indeed, according to Alan Burland, chairman of the organising committee for the world championships, being held in Bermuda for the first time in 11 years, many will deliberately not finish in order to avoid that fate.

"Not all the participants will take part, partly because of that and also because some will still be measuring,'' he said. "But the practice race is as much for the race committee as the contestants, as they will be setting the course and starting line, which is unusually long because of the number of entries.'' Two of the orginal 71 crews have been forced to drop out of the 10-race event: Alan Powell from Bermuda because of work commitments and Argentinian San Diego Lange, a top dinghy sailor new to the Tornado class, who has been delayed sailing in a competition in Malta.

Burland said the crews, who have arrived en masse in the final week leading up to the event, had been greatly impressed with the sailing conditions on the Island.

"They absolutely love it,'' he said. "Some of them say it's the best sailing in the world: it's clean, it's warm and with good winds. Obviously that's what we want them to say because we want to see as many as possible back here for winter training.'' Two courses have been drawn up for the races: one in the Great Sound and the other in Murray's Anchorage in the East End. The race committee will decide which course to use on a daily basis at 8.30 in the morning -- a choice that will depend mainly on wind strength rather than direction.

People planning to follow the races from their own boats are advised to ring the regatta office on 234-5313 at about 9.00 a.m. to find out the location of a particular day's action.

The first competitive racing, however, commences today with the Bacardi Blast series -- spectacular time trials directly in front of the cruise ship berth at Dockyard -- from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

The main regatta gets underway tomorrow at 11.00 a.m. with the first world championship race, and another Bacardi Blast at 2.00 p.m.

There will then be two championship races daily at 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.

until next Saturday with the Blast series restricted to an hour from 3.30 p.m.

Wednesday is a rest day.

WIND POWER -- More than 70 boats are set to take part in this year's World Tornado Championships which get underway in the Great Sound today with a practice race.