Brandon DeSilva and Blake Burgess will be among the teams laying their titles on the line in the prestigious Rubis Around the Island Powerboat Race tomorrow.

The pair made history as the first winners in the then new BV class after leading the five boats in their division across the finish last time out.

Driver DeSilva and co-pilot Burgess will again have their work cut out for them as they attempt to defend their title competing again in their Phantom boat this time around.

“We are looking forward to it,” an optimistic DeSilva told The Royal Gazette.

“There are five boats registered in BV class so we have some competition this year. We are going to give it our best and see what our competition is saying.

“The boat is running great. We are running the same Evinrude 150 engine we put on back in 2008, and it’s still running strong.

“It’s supposed to be good weather for it on Sunday, so we are excited and just want to thank all our sponsors and Bermuda Power Boat Association.”

Ricky Sousa and co-pilot Nick Cabral and Makinday Johensen and co-pilot Ryan Resendes are among the other teams confirmed in the BV class.

Shane Madeiros and co-pilot Josh Holder were the only other winners from last year confirmed as of yesterday. The pair claimed honours last time out as the only A class entry to finish the race.

Madeiros and Holder will defend their crown against the grandfather and grandson team of Chris Marshall and Jacari Marshall.

Marshall, the former professional racer and three-times S class world and US national champion, has come out of retirement this year at age 68 to groom his grandson, who has also taken a liking to the sport.

Meanwhile, new champions could potentially be already guaranteed in the S class, D class, and C class this year.

David Selley and Steven Bridges are not back to defend their S class title, leaving 2022 winners Andrew Cottingham and Henry Talbot as the sole entry in the class this year.

Last year’s C class winners Chad Sutherland and Lee Wilson and D class winners Craig Nesbitt Jr and Sr were not confirmed as of yesterday.

Sutherland and Wilson competed alone in C class in last year’s race while father-and-son duo Craig Nesbitt Jr and Sr savoured a maiden win competing together.

The team of Jody Carreiro and Tony Carreiro and Quince Dowling and Tai Bean were the only C class entries confirmed yesterday.

Those confirmed in the D class included Shaki Easton and co-pilot M’Kai Hodsoll, Bobby DeCosta and David Willoughby and Patrick Stamper and Marcus Pimentel.

Action gets under way at Ferry Reach at 2pm and will be preceded by the junior races at 10am.

Mariners have once been advised to exercise extreme caution as the competitors make their way around the island at high speeds.