Defending Long Distance Comet Race champion Rockal Evans isn’t taking anything for granted in the lead-up to this year’s regatta.And for good reason.The 24-year-old sailor is currently building a mast from scratch for his new boat just in case the June 18 race turns out to be as blustery as the previous one.Evans and crew Ben Smith were the only team to cross the finish line in St George’s Harbour in last year’s race as strong winds took a heavy toll on the fleet. But not before capsizing multiple times.“Sailing with a 12 year-old was like survival really,” Evans recalled. “We were just trying to keep the boat together and get around Fort St Catherine in one piece.”Evans’ grandfather (Howard Lee) purchased a second hand Comet (Hot Tamali) last year. Evans has sailed in the boat since but in the lead-up to the comet race has decided best to replace the old mast for the big occasion.“The other mast was bent out of shape and corroded so I wasn’t going to risk it,” he said. “For this race you really have to have good preparations so that’s why I am in the process of building a new mast for the race.“I’m actually building a new mast from scratch. It’s a 505 mast and Stevie (multiple Edward Cross Cup winner Stevie Dickinson) is helping me to build it.“I’m actually going to spray the boat yellow and might put High Yella on the side of it,” he said.High Yella is actually the name of the boat owned by Lee, who is a two-time Edward Cross Cup winner.Lee’s two wins arrived in 1956 and 1957.Evans, who has yet to determine his crew for this year’s sailing spectacle, said it was vital to keep the heritage of the Long Distance Comet Race alive for future generations.“We have to keep it alive because it means so much to the community and also means so much to me,” he added.Between sailing in the Laser and Fitted Dinghy, Evans has managed to get some much needed practice in the comet as well.“I haven’t done too much double-handed sailing but I have been out recently on several occasions,” he said. “And I’m pretty confident I can defend my Long Distance title because I’m getting better and better in the boat.”West End Sailboat Club, hosts for this year’s race, have gone the extra mile to ensure the regatta goes smoothly as planned.Oscar Award-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr has been given the honour of starting this year’s race to commence in St George’s Harbour and conclude in the Great Sound.“Mr Lou Gossett has agreed to be our guest and shall be on the water that day and at the club after the race to meet and greet the people of Bermuda,” confirmed WESC Commodore Emily DeShields. “He’s looking forward to it very much and we are letting him start the race.”