Organisers of the Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race are ready to put back the start rather than send 107 boats into the path of tropical storm Arlene.

Five Bermuda-based yachts are among those competing in the biennial event, with the fleet due to leave the south Massachusetts town of Marion on Friday.

Weather forcasters predict Arlene will pass over Bermuda and then head north-west, close to the race route.

The notice of race stipulates: "We may postpone the start if unusually heavy weather is anticipated.'' Race chairman John Braitmayer said yesterday the race could be put back a few days, but he hoped it would not be necessary.

"We have three days to make a decision and we are watching the storm very closely,'' said Braitmayer. "We would postpone the start if it was not deemed appropriate to send the fleet out there.'' Regularly updated and detailed weather maps taken from the Internet are being posted on the noticeboard at the Beverly Yacht Club, race hosts at the American end.

If the storm follows the projected path being forecast yesterday, it will drift to the west of the route being taken by most of the competitors.

However, Arlene is still likely to be close enough to test the fleet with high winds and heavy seas.

At yesterday's strength, the yachts would encounter winds of around 34 knots and an accompanying huge swell, even if the storm passed 50 miles west of them.

If the fleet gets the go-ahead to depart on time, Arlene could still have a major influence, with strong winds helping to throw up some fast times for the crossing to the finishing point off St. David's.

Braitmayer said it was a matter of how near to the storm sailors were prepared to sail. "If you want to sail close to the wind, then you have to take the heavy seas -- you can't have one without the other,'' he said.

"Big seas are not really much of a problem, it's when you get steep rogue waves close together that it gets difficult.'' He added that all competing boats were being inspected and that every one needed to have high grade lifejackets, a lifeboat, a short side band radio receiver and the crew should have written proof of having undergone a man overboard drill.

"Everyone is very conscious of safety,'' added Braitmayer. "This is not such a highly competitive race as Newport-Bermuda, it's more of a family race and so safety is a bigger concern than speed.'' All skippers will receive a weather briefing tomorrow evening from former Bermuda resident Herb Hilgenberg, who is now based in Canada and is regarded an expert on Atlantic weather.

Hilgenberg will give forecast updates to all competitors throughout the race via broadcasts on SSB radio.

And in case of severe difficulties, all boats are fitted with 406 EPIRB -- an emergency position-indicating radio beacon -- which sends out a signal unique to each craft which can be picked up by satellite from anywhere in the world.

By yesterday afternoon, less than half the skippers who have registered to take part had arrived, with around 45 of the race boats moored in the picturesque Marion harbour, including two of the five Bermuda boats, Paul Hubbard's Bermuda Oyster and Buddy Rego's Tsunami .

Expected to come in soon are Warren Brown's War Baby , Colin Couper's Babe and David Roblin's Lullaby .

This year, organisers will be able to follow the race better than ever before, as six of the boats will be fitted with transponders allowing their positions to be constantly tracked.

"None of the six boats are being publicly identified though obviously we know which they all are,'' said Braitmayer.

"We have chosen two of the biggest ones, two medium ones and two of the smaller ones, so from that we should get a good idea of how the whole race is going.''