Top Bermuda sailor Peter Bromby is making an early move to celebrate his 39th birthday in grand style next Tuesday.

The Star class competitor and crew Lee White have jumped into the lead after four of 11 races in the Pre-Olympic Regatta in Athens, Greece.

The pair enjoyed another solid day of sailing, finishing third and fourth in yesterday's two races. Added to their sixth and first-place finishes from day one on Wednesday, they have the current low total of 14 points and hold a six-point advantage over Marc Pickel of Germany (20 points) with Dutch skipper Serge Kats in third on 21 points.

Lurking just behind him are previous Star world champions Torben Grael (Brazil) on 22 points, Paul Cayard of the USA (24 points) and Britain's Iain Percy on 28 points.

The latter, who was leading after the first day, endured a tough day including a jury penalty for downwind propulsion which he may appeal.

"Peter and Lee had two great starts and were well placed at the top mark first time in both races. To be consistent on this race track is no small feat. The shifts in the breeze direction and the changes in velocity are massive. It requires a cool tempo.

"There is a long way to go in this regatta, but the boys are in great shape," said Bermuda's team leader Andrew Palfrey.

It was another "very hot, sunny and dry" day in excess of 35 degrees celsius with the wind coming off the land at approximately eight to 14 knots. Palfrey told The Royal Gazette there was some delay as the sea breeze fought the land breeze.

Bermuda's other world-class sailor, Paula Lewin, had to wait even longer to get going as Yngling competitors were kept onshore for four hours because race officials feared too many boats on the course while the Star and Finn classes competed.

"I think this was over-reaction as we regularly sail in fleets of 60 to 80 boats and this event has less than 20 boats in each class," said Palfrey.

"We left the club at 7.30 p.m. (2.30 p.m. Bermuda time) and the girls in the Yngling class were still racing."

Internet results indicated Lewin and her crew (twin sister Peta Lewin and Carola Cooper) had slipped to 11th place from ninth overnight, having finished tenth in the one race completed yesterday. They have a total of 25 points from three races.

American Hannah Swett leads the Yngling with a low score of six points while Ruslana Taran of the Ukraine is second on nine points and Germany's Kristine Wagner, third on 13 points. The Ynglings have a day off today while the Stars continue racing ahead of their off day tomorrow.