of their Tornado rivals Reid and Jay Kempe when they sailed home in front in the opening two encounters of International Race Week.

Burland and Nash, who have not raced competitively since last September, found the strong winds and rough seas in the Great Sound much to their liking, getting off to the best of starts in the the seven-race series which sails to a finish on Wednesday.

Others did not find the conditions so favourable, with Canada's Larry Woods among those to fall victim to the elements.

The Kempes, trying out a new sail as they bid to find the perfect formula for success in Barcelona this summer, improved on a first-race fifth to take second in the afternoon.

But the Olympic duo had to be content with third overall at the end of the first day of competition, after a fine showing from another local sailor, Malcolm McBeath.

McBeath, helped by the expert crewmanship of Glenn Astwood, filled third place in both races to give him second overall.

Woods, fellow Canadian John Burrows, and Paul Standley of the US, are the only overseas challengers in the nine-strong Tornado fleet.

There were few surprises in the IOD Class with Bermuda's world champion Peter Bromby making the perfect start to his bid to capture a fifth successive Race Week title.

Bromby enjoyed an emphatic victory yesterday afternoon over the man who pushed him hardest in the race for the Vrengen Gold Cup last year, Bill Widnall of the US.

Widnall, a six-time world champion, followed Bomby home, but he was a long way behind the local favourite.

Marion's Bill Berry completed the top three as the IOD fleet began what is set to be a gruelling week, with eight races scheduled to decide the fate of three different trophies.

Bermuda's other IOD challenger Martin Siese raced to fifth place.

Bromby's Olympic Star partner Paul Fisher sailed to a solid third place in the Etchells Class, along with co-skipper Billy McNiven. But he could not get near fellow Bermudian challenger Tim Patton.

Patton, who was runner-up last year, started this year's campaign in fine form, sailing home ahead of his friend and rival David Jones of the United States.

A previous winner of Race Week, Patton led from start to finish to give him the perfect launch to his 1992 title assault.

Jones, the 1990 champion whose victory hopes were shattered by a boat breakdown last year, had to be content with second.

Nina Nielsen enjoyed an impressive Race Week debut, returning the best performance of the remaining Americans in the fleet with a fourth-place finish.

It was not such a good day, however, for defending champion Herny Spingler, who is sharing the role of skipper with Dick Hodgson and Paul Sollitto.

Spingler and crew could only manage to finish ninth of the 13 starters.

Bermuda's national sailing coach Chuck Millican fared even worse, struggling home in 12th spot. But the other home hope Jack Outerbridge managed to salvage a fifth place from the opening encounter.

The Etchells have a long week ahead of the them, with competition not set to finish until Friday.

And it looks set to be an exciting week for the J24s after the first two of their eight races produced different winners and a consistent start from Bermuda's top challenger Trevor Boyce.

Boyce finished second twice, following Peter Eastman across the line in the morning and Geoffrey Moore in the afternoon.

He is now sandwiched between the two Americans in the race for overall honours.

Eastman had the edge at the end of day one, thanks to a third place to add to his victory.

Jim Scott of the US took the honours in the opening encounter among the Luders, with Canada's Allan Chandler and George Hughes filling the minor places.

Bermuda's David Summers, the reigning Race Week champion, finished in fourth place.

DOUBLE SUCCESS -- Tornado duo Alan Burland and Chris Nash.

OUT IN FRONT -- Tim Patton (KB-4) leads home David Jones (US-526 in the Etchells Class.