Heavy seas continued to bombard the Charleston to Bermuda racing fleet yesterday.

At last report, Charleston resident Teddy Turner Jr still led the fleet that was reduced to 12 boats when Michael Kapps' 38-foot Sabre, Ghost, was forced to abandoned the race after suffering mechanical failure.

Turner's 40-foot Condor, Troika, was said to be cruising at 10 to 12 knots and was reported to be some 475 miles west of the Island while it was confirmed yesterday that Kapp had returned safely back to Charleston.

Trailing Turner were Rex Con's Alacrity and Neal Peterson's No Barriers.

There are no local entries in this year's bi-ennial race.

Turner is the son of broadcasting tycoon, Ted Turner, the current Atlanta Braves and CNN news network owner.

Thus far, four boats have dropped out of the 777 nautical mile ocean crossing which began last Saturday from Charleston Harbour in South Carolina.

The first boat is now anticipated to cross the finish line at St.David's Head late tonight or early tomorrow morning while Rick Orchard's 2001 race record of 73 hours flat looks set to stand for at least another two years.

Sailors were confronted with 15-knot east-north-east winds and eight foot seas yesterday.

"It's still pretty bouncy conditions out there and unfortunately the wind is about 60 degrees on the compass which means that from where they are they have to travel about 90 degrees on the compass to get to Bermuda," said race media relations officer Dan Dikison from Charleston yesterday.

"They (sailors) can't sail that line directly. So they will have to tack one way or the other. So we don't anticipate a finish until perhaps late Wednesday or early Thursday unless conditions really change."

There are three separate classes competing in this year's race which is is open to all boats 30 feet and larger that have the required safety equipment and a demonstrated ability to sail offshore. The divisions include Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, Multi-hulls and Classic Yachts.

All boats will be scored according to their ratings with the race utilising the seconds-per-minute handicapping system based on previous performances

The event was first held in 1997 when only six entries competed. David Sully was the inaugural winner.

Bermuda's Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin take to the waters off Medemblick in the Netherlands today for the start of the 2003 Spa Regatta.

Bromby will be competing in the Star Class and will be up against the likes of current world champions Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell of Britain. Sydney gold medallists Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl (USA) and France's world number one, Xavier Lupert, are also in the fleet of 59 boats.

Lewin, meanwhile, will be competing in the Yngling class that is comprised of 33 boats. The Bermudian will be up against the likes of world champions Monica Azon, Laia Tutzo and Julia Garcia of Spain.