isn't wasting any of them.

The reigning champion was out on the waters off Dockyard yesterday, in practice for the forthcoming defence of his title.

The German, who won last year at Mooloolaba in Queensland and with crew member Rene Schwall is currently ranked number one in the world, was the first competitor on the Island, arriving more than a week ago.

He has now been joined by about a dozen other teams, mainly from Europe, as the build-up gathers pace.

More than 70 teams in all from 18 different countries will take part in the event, the majority of whom are expected to arrive throughout this weekend.

International Tornado Association president John Forbes, who flew into Bermuda from Australia on Tuesday, said the Europeans were first here because the weather was not suitable for practice on the other side of the Atlantic at this time of the year.

Forbes himself has yet to make it out on to the water. He was busy down at the championship headquarters in the Victualling Yard of Royal Naval Dockyard yesterday putting the finishing touches to his new boat.

Forbes was world champion in 1989 and 1992 with compatriot Mitch Booth. The pair also picked up a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Now both are hoping for a record third win, but that is possible for only one of them.

Booth, who picked up a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics at Savannah, Georgia, with Andrew Lanndenberger, has recently been sailing with Adam Beashel, with whom he is ranked three in the world. Forbes is currently partnered by Darren Bundock.

While the latter would obviously delight in another victory, he's putting his own money on the French brothers Mourniac. Jean-Christophe and Phillippe finished second in the 1995 competition and are ranked only ninth in the latest standings for the class.

But, says Forbes: "They've been winning a lot of regattas this year.'' Registration and measurement begins next Thursday, with the first Bacardi Blast race past the cruise ship berth at Dockyard the following Saturday from 2.00-4.00 p.m. The first of the ten main races is staged on the Sunday, again beginning at 2.00 p.m and two races are held each day until the final day on November 15.

VICTORY ROL -- German sailor Roland Gaebler is out to defend his title at the World Tornado Championships on the Island.