NOT even a pre- race typhoon could deter Nailsworth's Peter Reed as Great Britain's men's four moved into Thursday's semi-finals of the Bearing Point World Championships in Gifu, Japan.

Earlier, a typhoon had put Reed and team on hold after 8,000 marker buoys had been removed from the six-lane 2,000 metres.

However, after the delay Reed Alex Williams, Alex Partridge and Andy Hodge won their heat in a time of 5:55.24.

In their trademark style they led from early in the race and had two or three lengths on the rest of the field throughout.

"We had a pretty good row today, " said Reed. "We wanted to show that we had stepped on in the right way. "It felt comfortable and we moved at our own rate in the first 1000m."

Reed, Alex Williams, Alex Partridge and Andy Hodge were convincing in winning by more than two lengths but the Americans were quicker in their heat by two seconds - albeit in a more bunched field.

The main threat for the four could well come from the Americans - three of whom were in the four, which beat GB's Athens Olympic gold medal four last year at the Lucerne World Cup.

Only the bowman Matt Deakin is a newcomer to the line-up. In a tighter heat they were almost two seconds quicker than the British.

The men's fours semi-finals are on Thursday.