LAST week's wash-out of the Round the Island race could prove a blessing in disguise for at least two contestants whose boats were out of action.

A replacement for Jessie Furtado and Richard Correia's blown motor only arrived last Friday ? too late for last week's planned contest.

And it is hoped Clevelyn Maybury's new motor, due in this week, can be fitted in time for the race on Sunday.

Bermuda Powerboat Association President Robert DeCosta said: "I am hoping for 15 powerboats and 15 jet skis, if we can give those guys more time then hopefully we'll have more that we would have last week."

But he conceded numbers are a far cry from the heydays of the 1980s when you could see 35 boats tackling the 46-mile circumnavigation.

He blamed soaring costs for pricing many out of the amateur sport. "Ten years ago a motor cost $14,000, now its $24,000."

The rampant inflation reflected the growing pace of technology as people sought to get the latest gear, he said.

"You get a trophy if you place, it isn't a paying sport."

It was even harder for those without sponsorship to compete said DeCosta who has the backing of EuroCar and Renault.

"It helps ? hopefully other guys will be able to get better sponsorship or at least some."

He said sport organisers would be lobbying Government to help reduce the 33 and a third percent duty which he said was the same paid by those with pleasure boats they used every day of the week.

"Look at myself, I have a $60,000 boat I can only use for power boating, nothing else."

Some duty was expected added DeCosta who said a reduction to ten percent duty would be better than no reduction at all.

"Hopefully they will look into it and try to work with us."

He said closed circuit races with formula one boats brought more interest from racers and spectators but it died out after racer Ken Dear was killed off Ferry Reach.

"It was very dangerous, that's what people liked although I wouldn't like to say they liked to see people killed. There was a point in time when international drivers came and we had a three-hour marathon inside Ferry Reach. Now there is no more F-1 class boating, there is no real reason for them to come."

After Dear died at Ferry Reach the sport was never the same again said DeCosta.

The F-1 boats which were light, two-pontoon boats made of thin wood and could do 115-120 mph.

In the old days he reckoned the race attracted about 10,000 spectators who flocked to Ferry Reach, Darrell's Wharf and Hogfish Beacon for the best views.

He remembers being in a boat as a youngster with Ann Selly in Flatt's harbour when Robert (Blimp) Sousa lost control of his craft and drove over another boat just 25 feet away, although miraculously no one was hurt.

"That was the last year boats went through Flatts. It was getting too dangerous. That was what people wanted to see, they didn't want to see safe racing, they wanted top excitement. Unfortunately we have had a couple of deaths over the years.

"But no one puts a gun to your and says you must get in these boats, it's a dangerous sport. Everyone knows it. I know it but I thrive on it."

In 1993 he had a narrow escape when he was racing off Ferry Reach when his boat, which had a crack in it, came apart.

"We came into Ferry Reach on the last lap, hit a wave and the boat completely disintegrated, it was absolutely amazing. I was in the hospital for three days.

"After that I stopped racing for ten years then one day I was down Ferry Reach when I saw a little boat racing. It's like cigarettes, it's absolutely addictive," said DeCosta, 45, who started racing in 1982 after being excited by the exploits of Eddie Roque in the F-1 races.

Today's power boaters are now all offshore and can reach speeds of 125 mph.

As recently as 2002 the Round the Island race had a fatality when the craft driven by Michael Araujo flipped off Coral Beach and claimed the life of New Zealander Stuart Smith who was widely admired in the sport.

Although he hopes to win on Sunday in his 23-foot D class boat DeCosta mainly prays for good weather and safe racing.

"I have a chance. Last year I had a chance but I struck a reef after Ariel Sands and lost a propeller," said DeCosta who has spent a lot of time reorganising the crash boats which will number 25 on the day although more volunteers are welcome.

It will be his 11th race. He came close to winning in the early 1990s but came placed second in his class and third overall after getting steering problems in Castle Harbour which caused him to stop for six minutes.

Last year saw Ricky Sousa and Scott Johnson power their S Class entry first across the finish line at Ferry Reach for their first win after a close race.

Water conditions will play a big part in deciding this year's winner predicted DeCosta who added that calm water favoured the smaller boats in the A and B classes while rough weather would favour S Class boats such as that of Andy Stoneham and Ricky Sousa.

The season had started pretty well but a few race have have suffered major break-ups with blown engines, he said.

Asked about the development of the sport he said he would try to interest sponsors in getting international racers back in larger 38-40 foot boats which he said the island was perfect for.

"Those type of boats can run in the water we had on Sunday, they can run over that stuff without any problem at all. It brings in tourists as well as families and pit crew.

"We are planning to talk to Government, it will be a big topic of conversation in the winter months. Hopefully they will see it is something which needs to be done."

The jet skis start at noon and the powerboats at 2 p.m at Ferry Reach. Volunteers for the crash boats should call DeCosta on 735 2555.