Paula Lewin came back strongly after a bad start to win her opening race in the Women's World Match Racing Championships in Florida yesterday.

The Bermudian skipper and number six seed defeated the unseeded Carolijn Brouwer of the Netherlands in the only race Lewin was able to complete in a programme limited by the lack of wind.

"We won it but we lost the start,'' said Lewin, who raced with her regular crew of Peta Lewin, Leatrice Roman and Lisa Neasham.

"We both went over the line early and as both boats went back to restart, she gained a slight advantage and started about three boat-lengths ahead of us.

"We managed to get to the left of her, where the breeze was stronger and lifting and slowly caught her. By the windward mark we had gone past her. And from then we stayed ahead.

"To come from behind and win is a good way to start, it gave us a bit of fight.'' Conditions had been extremely light, but better conditions are expected when she and her crew continue their campaign today, said Lewin.

"We went out on the water about 2.00 p.m. and just drifted around until about 4.00 p.m. when there was enough wind to start,'' she said.

"At the start, it was blowing at three to four knots and towards the end it got lighter, but the breeze never died.

"The forecast says there will be more wind over the next three days, from 10 to 15 knots.'' For Lewin, it was the first race of the regatta, but Brouwer went into the contest with seven races already under her belt after having to qualify from the first phase of round-robin racing.

It took until noon yesterday to complete that first phase as lack of wind earlier in the week had put the regatta behind schedule. Eight of the 16 unseeded skippers were eliminated while the other eight went into the draw for the second phase.

Lewin's group includes the defending world champion and number one seed Dorte Jensen of Denmark, as well fourth-seeded Briton Cordelia Eglin.

Americans Hanna Swett and Dru Slattery, ranked ninth in the world, Australia's Katie Spithill and Italy's Cristiana Monina make up the rest of the group.

Lewin needs to finish in the top four of her round-robin group to reach the quarter-finals.

In yesterday's other races in Group 2A, Jensen defeated Swett, Monina defeated Slattery and Spithill defeated Eglin.

In Group 2B, second seeded American Betsy Allison got off to a bad start, beaten by 11th-ranked Swede Marie Bjorling.

Britain's Europe dinghy Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson defeated Gwen Joulie, while Zuiderbaan Klaartje beat Malin Milbourn and Christine Briand saw off Amy Waring.

Winning start: Bermudian skipper Paula Lewin (left) and crew in action yesterday during their opening-race victory over Carolijn Brouwer, of the Netherlands, in the Women's World Match Racing Championships in St.

Petersburg, Florida.