They both love the Newport-Bermuda Race but when Jim Mertz and Bill Kardash set sail from Rhode Island next week Friday, they will have completely different agendas.

At 90 years-old, Mertz is simply looking forward to “a pleasant trip” across the Atlantic Ocean and, in the process, stretching his record as the sailor who has made the most of these biennial journeys from the United States to these shores.

“I don't go out to win anymore. It's just a cruise. I just like to get there and meet the people, the sailors. We have a lovely camaraderie,” said the Rye, New York native, casually but clearly excited by thoughts of another rendezvous with long-standing friends on his favourite island.

He is fiercely proud of the fact that he has participated in all but two editions of the Newport-Bermuda event since 1936. He missed out in 1948 and 1986. However, sometime in the third week of this month, he and his vessel - Allegra - should add to his phenomenal love affair with this race as he completes his 31st crossing.

By contrast, while Mertz is taking his cool time across the deep seas, Kardash will be eyeing the prize - or rather - prizes, since he is keen on winning more than one.

“We have hopes of doing well both individually and again with our team. Our ambition is to win our class and take a shot at winning the St. David's Lighthouse Trophy (award for the top cruiser racer in the race),” he said, elaborating on what he will be aiming to achieve aboard Aura, his 1973 Swan 44 yacht. Another objective is to complete a hat-trick among individual entries in the Onion Patch series. That competition consists of five races - two in Newport (at the New York Yacht Club annual regatta which takes place this weekend), then the Newport-Bermuda race and, finally, two races hosted by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC). Kardash has won the individual category on the last two occasions.

Additionally, the 59-year-old advertising boss would also like to repeat the 2000 capture of the Onion Patch team award. Interestingly, Kardash had chartered and skippered Aura for the Newport-Bermuda race in 1998 and 2000. Back then it was named Ugly Ducking and it - along with Temptress (co-skippered by Bermudian Kirk Cooper) and Gaylark - represented the Cruising Club of America successfully in the team segment.

This year, Aura is part of the New York Yacht Club's team which includes Temptress (skippered by Dr. Richard Shulman) and Idler (skippered by George David).

“We have a very knowledgeable team. We've done 36 Newport-Bermuda races among us and we hope to continue the good fortune we've had,” said Kardash who has a crew of seven for this venture, including a navigator and watch captain who have accompanied him on his previous outings in this race.

The event will provide a stern test for Aura which has only just returned to the high seas after sustaining $100,000 in damages when hit by another boat last year.

“The boat was out of commission from last June until now. We want to see if we can regain our winning form,” noted the owner.

Mertz, the retired owner of roofing slate quarries, has already savoured victory in this sailing extravaganza. He was watch captain when Argyll won in 1950. Though he first competed in the race in 1936, his links to the Island and its people date back to 1927 when he raced against Bermudian sailors in their one-designs in Long Island Sound.

Also, in 1943 during World War II, he was stationed in Great Sound, off Somerset. He came ashore just once - for four hours - in the five weeks he was there “putting a new ship in commission”. Since then he has spent much more time here and anticipates doing the same again on this occasion.

His yacht, Allegra, is a French-manufactured Beneteau 42, designed by Argentinian Herman Frers who is well known in international boating circles. It will race in the Cruising Canvas category (no spinnakers).

“It's a lovely island and I always have a good time over there. The hospitality is great,” said this old man of the sea.

Kardash, too, is looking forward to the coming weeks and what he termed “a great race with a very competitive fleet”.

Bermuda, he added, is “a wonderful destination to sail to” and the festivities are capped by more sailing in the RBYC Regatta.