BERMUDA'S most beautiful bay will play host to its most sizzling sport on Saturday as more than a hundred people head down to Horseshoe for the beach volleyball tournament.

Last year the women's twos were won by Wendy Gazzard and Katarina Carnicka while the men's twos were won by John Martin and Alvin Bell.

All four were involved in Bermuda's beach volleyball effort at last month's Island Games in Rhodes ¿ with Martin doubling up with both indoor and beach versions of the sport.

Bermuda failed to medal but should begin to improve as the sport goes from strength to strength.

Hundreds of spectators flocked to the Under 19 Beach Volleyball championship held at Horseshoe last year which saw 50 teams from around the world battle for victory before Hurricane Florence truncated proceedings.

But organiser Beth Rae said interest had been high even before that.

There are around 110 teams in the summer including six leagues of four-a-side teams at Elbow Beach playing Monday to Thursday nights while for more serious players there is the two-a-side King and Queen of the Beach league at Horseshoe Bay.

Rae said more than 100 people were expected on Saturday with games starting at 9.30.

Rae, who is captain of the Bermuda women's indoor team, and runs most of the beach tournaments said it was a vastly different game from the indoor version.

"You have to deal with moving and jumping in the sand. There's wind and sun, the ball is unpredictable so you have to adapt faster." With fewer people in the court players have to cover greater areas while strategies tend to get downright personal.

"When you are just playing twos you always pick on one player. You always serve to them so they end up doing the hitting.

"It is much more strategic that way. You are hitting a lot more spots ¿ you are hitting a lot more of the empty court. Whereas in indoor you are not picking on individuals but playing more of a power game." But aside from tactical nuances the sport has plenty of fans for other reasons said Ray.

"It is a very social sport, you get a lot of people out just to meet people. Any night of the week down at Horseshoe you have got up to 125 people playing at the beach at one time. That's a lot of people to meet, play with, have a beer with and swim with.

"Everybody wants to play on the beach ¿ our summer participation is huge."

Saturday's event is the first of the August Spike-Fest with the Co-ed tournament in two weeks time for A and B division co-ed two-a-side teams, and there will be a DJ and free food and drink for participants.

Rae said beachgoers often became enthralled by the action going on around them and wanted to join in.

"Lots of times even when the tournament is finished a lot of people who have been watching jump on the court and play around too. We usually leave the nets up for that."

q If you are interested in joining a beach team or finding out more email bdavbhotmail.com