Bermuda's team in Eco-Challenge Fiji 2002 was 70th out of 81 teams at the end of one stage of the 300-mile adventure trek through the remote jungles of the South Pacific archipelago.

Later results yesterday evening (Bermuda time) - as stages two and three were ongoing - showed they had slipped to 74th but this would be of little concern to the foursome of Kim Mason (captain), Jim Butterfield, Kevin Pearson and Lee Harrison whose sole aim is to complete the rugged journey in the ninth edition of the annual Eco-Challenge series.

"They were fine and were concentrating on getting on with what they had to do," reported Patty Petty, speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Petty, who assisted the team in preparing for this mission and who is in Fiji following the event, saw her Bermudian friends when the latter reached the first checkpoint on a riverbank around 3.30 p.m. Friday (12.30 a.m. Friday Bermuda time). The team had begun the first stage at 9.15 a.m. that day (6.15 p.m. Thursday Bermuda time).

In preparation for the second leg of their journey - which began later on Friday - the team had to build a raft with the help of natives. Up until 8.30 a.m. Saturday (5.30 p.m. Friday Bermuda time) they had not yet reached the second checkpoint. At that time, three teams - Mazda, EarthLink and Air Pacific - were tied for the lead of the expedition race. By contrast, Petty noted that, in a funny twist of fate, the much-publicised Kodak Water & Sport team was dead last, having lost their way on the first leg and being unable to find the river to which they had to be directed.

"A lot of the television cameramen went off following this team because there's a movie star from Star Wars in it but then they got lost and were hours and hours behind," she explained, adding that the event is highly geared towards television.

Petty, herself, is enjoying the adventure of a lifetime, though she will only be able to glimpse the Bermuda team every few days at designated checkpoints in the wilderness.

"I know what I am going through, sleeping in remote villages and all that, so I can imagine what they are going through. It's a privilege being out here experiencing this up close," she said.