Former Bermuda Olympian sailor Penny Simmons, American Bruce Dyson and Norwegian co-skippers Thor Christensen and Dag Usterund will all have to wait until today to resume their bids for the 2002 International One Design (IOD) World Championships in the Great Sound.

With the final two races of the regatta scheduled yesterday, unstable shifting winds made it impossible for officials to set a course.

And despite a lengthy wait to see if the weather would stabilise, it was finally decided at 3 p.m. to call off the day's series and head back to shore.

Simmons, bidding for a fifth IOD world championship, maintains a 12.5 point lead over Dyson.

Simmons, with three wins, sits on 7.25 and Dyson on 19.75. Christensen and Usterund are currently lying in third place on 22.75 points.

Barring catastrophe, Simmons is expected to sew up another title when racing resumes this morning.

The Norwegian duo are the current reigning IOD world champions, having seized the rescheduled 2001 series off the shores of Boston in Marblehead in July.

The initial 2001 series was postponed as a result of last September's tragic terrorists attacks in the US.

In all, some 13 boats are currently in local waters contesting the 2002 championship.

"They (race officials) did the right thing. The wind was moving around the compass so much, it was just impossible to set a course which would have been equal for everybody," said Simmons.

"So I have to wait and see what happens tomorrow and hopefully the wind will be a little steadier. We've had some light winds and some breezes up to 18 knots, but tomorrow's forecast is calling for winds between ten and 15 knots, so that would certainly make it better sailing for everyone."

So far, Simmons has experienced smooth sailing, winning his three races comprehensively before further consolidating his position at the summit with a second and third place finish.

Dyson, who was also here in April competing in International Race Week, and Christensen and Usterund have each managed to win one race apiece to remain in contention.

Simmons is accompanied on board by wife Sacha and crew Darcy Betchard, Peter Terceira and Steven King.

"When we started out this morning the breeze was about 215 degrees and then it slowly went round the compass and kept shifting out of the north," said chairman of race committee Charles Tatem.

"Then it went from 25 degrees, 30, 45, 90, and then 140 degrees, so we were looking at sort of north, south, east and westerly winds. The wind almost made a full circle.

"Basically, because it's a World Championship we tried to make the best of the day no matter what."