You need two ingredients for a winning sandcastle, a bright idea and really, really wet sand.

This is what architect Nicky Gurret has learned after 15 years of organising the annual Bermuda International Sand Sculpture Competition.

"Building sandcastles is a lot like sculpting," said Ms Gurret. "The pro sandcastle builders usually have very good sculpting tools, but I don't use them.

"It is really about getting the sand really, really saturated and then carving."

This year the competition will be held at Horseshoe Bay on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"We do have some pro sandcastle builders coming down three days prior to the competition to build a huge exhibit which they do every year," said Ms Gurret.

Team Sandtastic, a group of professional sandcastle builders from the United States, are recognised as being among the world's top sandcastle builders. They build sand exhibits in competitions, shopping malls, parks and public venues all over the world. They also work with large and small companies, offering sandcastle-building workshops as a way for staff members to bond.

"This is the fifth year that the Department of Tourism has brought down Team Sandtastic," said Ms Gurret. "They will be doing a big sandcastle close to the entrance of Horseshoe Bay Beach. They will be working on that three days prior to the competition."

She said she did not want people to be intimidated by Team Sandtastic's work.

"You are not competing against professionals, you are competing against people in your own skill level," she said.

Team Sandtastic will be offering sandcastle-building workshops on September 1 and 2 on Horseshoe Bay Beach one hour before sundown.

Usually around 40 teams enter the competition. Last year, the competition was held over the Cup Match holiday and the number of entries fell.

Ms Gurret felt people were more reluctant to enter because of the heat at that time of year. Now it has been moved back to the beginning of September.

"It is nice to do this as a last thing before going back to school," she said. "Families can enter the competition. It is also a nice company team-building exercise."

There are eight different categories to enter: families, children 12 and under, teenagers, seniors 55-plus, open, company/organisation, tourist and professional.

Teams may consist of up to six people and a team can only pick one category to enter. Participants have six hours to make their gritty masterpieces in a space of twelve feet by twelve feet.

A panel of three judges will begin the judging at 4 p.m. Entry is free and there are lots of prizes offered one team that enters before September 1 will receive an ipod for every member of the team. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best professional and the best amateur sand sculpture in the competition. The top three winners in each category will also receive cash prizes $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third place.

To enter, e-mail sandtasticdays@bermudatourism.com. For more information telephone Ms Gurret on 295-4597 or the Bermuda Department of Tourism on 292-0023.

The competition is presented by The Bermuda Department of Tourism in association with the Institute of Bermuda Architects.