days of exciting water fare.

After suffering a dip in numbers last year, the annual regatta will see the debut of the 505 Class and welcome back the Tornado Class following a lengthy hiatus. The 505 Class will feature four two-member crews hailing from the United States.

Also returning are four defending champions: Penny Simmons (IOD), Michael Emery (J-24), Howard Lee (Comet) and David Eck (JY-15) as part of a bumper crop of 250 sailors and 95 craft.

Of the keel boat classes, most of the focus will likely centre on the Etchells 22 Class.

With reigning champion Peter Bromby electing to act as crew for American Robert Bell rather than take the helm, the door has been thrown wide open for a new winner to emerge.

"This year, with the absence of Peter at the helm, it's going to come down to the last race,'' said spokesman Andreas Lewin yesterday. "It should be tight and I'll be surprised if someone wins it by miles and it doesn't come down to the last day.'' Among those will be multiple former titlist Tim Patton, but he'll be challenged by a host of local and overseas sailors.

"Timmy had an off year last year but this time he has a decent crew and is always a threat,'' said Lewin, who will also be competing. "I think it's a very strong local fleet and should have a couple of us in the top five.

"There are six or seven who could win this, so it'll depend on who can consistently adapt and use the conditions to their advantage.'' Bermudians Glenn Astwood and Paul Fisher, as well as Bell, David Jones, Jake Jacobsen and John Kenerson of the United States are among the challengers, said Lewin.

Only when pressed did Lewin remark of his own chances, which would appear bright based on the fact that he was second a year ago and the absence of Bromby this time around.

"I'm hoping to improve on last year, so if I can do that I'll be happy,'' Lewin laughed.

Aside from having the second-most entries, the Etchells are also the most diversified in terms of nationalities, with six countries represented. In addition to Bermuda and the US there will be one entry from Hong Kong (Harald Dudok van Heel), Canada (Stuart Ash), Australia (Barry Topple) and Great Britain (Ted Fort).

Among the smaller non-keel classes, the Snipes stand out and, like the Etchells, promise the crowning of a new king.

In the absence of Stevie Dickinson, many are already ordaining Malcolm Smith, who has reverted back to the Snipes this year after flirting with the Lasers the last two in advance of the 1996 Olympic Games.

And as if he needed the help, Smith has taken on the services of Damian Payne, a first-class skipper in his own right, as crew.

"Any number of people can win depending on the weather conditions and how they feel on that day,'' noted Etchells president Kevin Blee. "I expect it to be very aggressive starting, where you'll probably see half the fleet competing at all the marks.

"Malcolm has done a lot of Snipe sailing before he went to the Lasers and he would certainly be my odds-on favourite, especially with Damian crewing for him.'' However, the pair will not be alone, nor will they be handed any favours by a fleet comprising multiple past champions Bill Buckles, who last won in 1994, and Jerry Thompson (1995) as well as the likes of Bermudian Brett Wright and Guy Eldridge.

Bermudians are outnumbered by nearly three to one in a fleet that, at 27, stands as the largest in several years. That number is a tribute to Blee and others charged with organisational chores.

Here to get a first hand view on Snipe racing in Bermuda will be none other than Gonzalo Diaz, commodore of the Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA), who will be paired with yet another past winner, Sherry Eldridge. In the game of musical classes, Dickinson has elected for the Comet where the east ender looks set to resume a sometimes stormy, but always intriguing rivalry with western rival Rudy Bailey.

Dickinson will carry crew Wesley Tucker, while Bailey has Calvin Lynch as they each duel for the title held by Lee.

Sunday sees the Laser, Tornado, J-24 and IOD fleets racing in the Great Sound, with the remainder -- 505, Etchells, JY-15, Snipe and Comet -- get started in earnest on Monday. Operating out of the Spanish Point Boat Club will be the JY-15, Snipe, Comet and Laser classes, while the rest have Royal Bermuda Yacht Club as their base.