The second largest ocean race in history gets underway at lunchtime today with more than 250 boats from across the whole sailing spectrum of size, speed and cost setting off on the 635-mile journey to Bermuda.

The centennial sailing of one of the world?s pre-eminent ocean races has attracted a cast of 2,527 crew members, all determined to complete the challenging Newport-Bermuda route as swiftly as possible.

The armada departs at 14 ten-minute intervals off Castle Hill in Newport, Rhode Island, from 2 p.m. Bermuda time, with competitors chasing a variety of prizes both for handicap and elapsed time finishes.

The chase for two key records is set to be intense, however, with the main fleet chasing the 2002 race record of 53 hours and the Demonstration Division ? including the mighty going for the 2004 unofficial mark of just over 48 hours.

The seven Bermuda vessels taking part in the race include; Richard Hartley?s Paul Hubbard?s , skippered by David Roblin, Dr. Stephen Sherwin?s Joseph Hoopes? and Robert Mulderig?s

Muldering?s Farr 72, which has former Olympic sailor Kirk Cooper aboard for his 23rd attempt at the race, will be the final voyage under the stewardship of Ian Cook, with captain Cook heading off for pastures new and a larger boat and challenge after nearly four years skippering for the Bermudian.

Colin Couper?s will once again compete in the event he first sailed as a youngster and features celebrity sailor Sir John Vereker, Bermuda?s Governor and an increasingly accomplished ocean sailor now on his third crossing of the Gulf stream, among his crew.

Although all the talk, as is always the case, has been the weather and possible record crossings ? the 100ft had threatened to complete the 635 miles in less than 35 hours ? the latest weather predictions are not the greatest for those keen to see short crossing times.

A thunderstorm advisory was issued for early yesterday morning as what?s left of Tropical Storm Alberto dumped rain and strong winds on the Rhode Island coast in the early hours of the morning.

But, although there are predictions of 10-15 knot winds for the start this lunchtime, there is a high pressure hole behind Alberto which is offering very little for the sailors.

?These things can obviously change but it is not looking great for the fastest of crossings,? said Dee Caffari, the navigator for the Volvo 60 and one of the Race?s celebrity sailors, having just completed the first ever solo female west-about journey around the world last month.

?There should be a good gradient wind at the start but maybe after about 24 hours there is not a lot of breeze about.

?This race is going to be all about tactics and making the most of eddies in the Gulf Stream. Consistent wind helps the ones with the better boat speed, but this will be more tactical making the job of Naviguesser, sorry Navigator, a lot more important.

?I am just looking forward to have some crew to talk to and I?m pretty sure it will be a shorter voyage than the 178 days the last one took.?

The tradition and history of the event means a lot to many of the older sailors and ashes of two with a close association to the event are set to be scattered on the course.

The crew of will scatter the ashes of Jim Mertz, who completed more than 30 crossings, in the Gulf Stream while Joe Harris on will scatter the remains of his father Woody ? with whom he has previously competed in the double-handed event ? at the St. David?s Lighthouse finish.

The first boats are expected to reach Bermuda at lunchtime on Sunday, with the majority of the fleet arriving between Monday and Wednesday and some stragglers will reach land as late as next Friday.