Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Jonathan Brewin's 53-foot sloop Big Bear should lay claim to Marion to Bermuda Race line honours off the shores of St. David's by mid-afternoon today.

The Class A boat made steady progress to the Island yesterday reaching along in 16.9 knots of winds that peaked at 25. At press time Big Bear was located some 215 miles north west of Bermuda travelling along at 7.7 knots.

Trailing Brewin's J160 is Class A rival Pegasus in second followed by Class B boat Crescendo that led the fleet earlier in the 645-nautical mile race from Buzzard's Bay, Marion to St.David's, Bermuda.

Big Bear is the sole remaining local boat in the fleet as Paul Hubbard's Bermuda Oyster and Jonathan Baxter's Pond Prowler have both thrown in the proverbial white towel.

Bermuda Oyster failed to make it to the start line after experiencing mechanical problems, while Pond Prowler switched on her engines to avoid a lull currently situated north of the rhumb line.

"They were in a lull for over a day and concerned about the low pressure. They switched the engine on to ensure that they safely passed the low pressure," said Janis Dunstan, whose husband Charles is navigator aboard Pond Prowler.

"Safety first, although I think they will still have a bumpy ride with the front that is currently over Bermuda."

So far a dozen of the original 48 entries in this year's race have retired, among them Falcor, the sole multi-hull in the fleet.

Meanwhile, Crescendo and Triple Lindy are currently locked in a duel for Class B line honours while the race for Class D line honours is also close with Silhouette, Shearwater, Fiona Rois and Thai Hot all in the thick in the hunt.

In contrast, Barry Feldman's Baltic 43, Avalon, holds a commanding lead in Class C and on current form should maintain pole position the rest of the way.

n Advanced Optimist sailors Owen Siese and Mackenzie Cooper warmed up for this month's North American Championships by putting in solid performances at last weekend's Scotiabank Caribbean International Optimist Regatta in the US Virgin Islands.

Warwick Academy student Siese led the way with a highly respectable sixth place finish, while compatriot Cooper rebounded from a slow start to lock down 15th position in an overall fleet of 74 sailors heralding from 14 different countries. Bermuda was also represented in the Intermediate Division where Cooper's younger sibling, Chase, placed 62nd.

"Owen was very consistent which is something that has long been a challenge for him while Mackenzie really pulled his socks up later in the regatta," said Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) sailing coach Paul Doughty.

Siese and Cooper are key cogs in Bermuda's eight-member team that will compete at next week's North American Championships to be held in the Dominican Republic where local conditions could favour the Island's youngsters.

"I think our biggest sailors that struggled in the light sloppy stuff in Ecuador (April's South American Championships) are going to be given the chance in 12 to 18 knots to excel and this could play to our advantage," Doughty reasoned.

Doughty is confident they can rise to the occasion in the Dominican Republic next week.

Bermuda's will be up against the powerful Asians and European teams who will be looking to use the regatta as a stepping stone for next month's Optimist World Championships in Rio Brazil. Siese and Cooper also form part of Bermuda's five-member team that will compete at next month's Optimist World Championships in Brazil.