Tropical Storm Alberto, currently ravaging the Gulf of Mexico, is now on the lips of the best part of 3,000 sailors.

Everyone involved in the centennial Newport to Bermuda Race, which sets off from Rhode Island on Friday, is keeping a close eye on weather reports as current forecasts predict Alberto will cross the rhumb line just hours before the race is due to start.

The first officially named storm of the 2006 hurricane season dumped up to 18 inches of rain on parts of Cuba over the weekend, forcing 27,000 people to be evacuated, and hit Florida yesterday with winds up to 70mph ? at 74mph it becomes a hurricane.

The storm is continuing north but current forecasts show that Narrangassett Bay itself, from where the record 280 boats are set to depart on their 635-mile journey in just three days, will be safe from Alberto, but the storm could cross the rhumb line early Friday morning.

?At the moment there is lots of talking but no worrying,? said race spokesman Talbot Wilson.

?It looks at the moment the storm will pass the rhumb line at about 9 a.m. on Friday morning but it is a way down the course so by the time the boats get there it will be late Friday, early Saturday.

?There might be strong seas and breeze, but at the moment we are not getting too concerned.?

In 1982 violent storms caused the postponement of the race start by two days.