remind her of the success she enjoyed at a regatta in Los Angeles last weekend in the Europe Dinghy Class.

Lewin, a bronze medallist at the Pan Am Games in Argentina earlier this year, has spent the last five weeks training and participating on the west coast of the United States.

That trip culminated with a victory in the Turkey Bowl Regatta in Los Angeles -- with the first place prize being a 30lb turkey which she brought home with her this week.

Six boats from four countries participated in the six-race regatta with Lewin starting with a fourth in the first race before kicking into overdrive and placing first, second, second, first and first to win convincingly.

Before that event,she was further north in San Francisco for a fall series which involved 25 boats in a six-race regatta. Lewin placed, fourth in that event, winning the first three races before finishing with two seconds and a third. However, there was a protest against her in one of the victories, which she lost when it was claimed she sailed into a restricted area. And that decision cost her a top two finish.

Still, Lewin said yesterday the trip was worthwhile and she would now be home only until December 7 before heading abroad again for further racing, this time in St. Petersburg, Florida for some match racing. That will be followed by training in Miami before Lewin returns home for the Christmas holidays.

"It's been great. This time away I was going faster and faster the more I sailed,'' said Lewin. "It's been a lot more fun.'' Lewin, like Star sailors Peter Bromby and Lee White, is gearing up for the Olympic Games regatta next Summer in Savannah, Georgia.

PAULA LEWIN -- victory in Los Angeles.