Ten of the next generation of sailing skippers will showcase their blossoming talent in the Junior Gold Cup next week.

Optimist skippers from nine guest nations as well as Bermuda will compete in the Renaissance Reinsurance Junior Gold Cup Optimist Regatta in the Great Sound and Granaway Deep as part of the week-long festivities surrounding the King Edward VII Gold Cup.

The sponsors' commitment to this event allows Optimist sailors from around the world to travel to Bermuda for the four-day regatta in which about 25 of the Island's top juniors will also participate.

The final race will take place in Hamilton Harbour with the winner receiving a Junior Gold Cup.

Those coming from overseas are: Nicholas McPharlin, Australia; Teemu Rantanen, Finland; Vincent Berthez, France; David deBoltz, England; Jas Farneti, Italy; Jochem-Bart Haakman, Netherlands; Frankie Lardies, New Zealand; Niclas Wallin, Sweden; and Mike Russom, USA.

This select handful of the world's elite young sailors will also have an opportunity to increase their match-racing knowledge, take part in practical drills and discuss the sport with some of its greats such as successful Americas Cup skippers Russell Coutts and Dennis Conner.