All eyes will be centred on top local skippers Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin when Etchells match racing action takes to the waters of Hamilton Harbour on Sunday.

Both sailors have been extremely active overseas lately, competing in Europe and the US as they intensify preparations geared towards next year's Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Sunday's race is being viewed as a precursor to the Bacardi National Match Racing championships and the King Edward VII Gold Cup series which take place later this year in Hamilton Harbour.

The Etchells is arguably the most competitive class of one-design racing on the Island, and as such it's anticipated competition will be intense among the racing fleet, slightly reduced due to the unavailability of skippers Glen Astwood and Adam Barboza who are both currently competing overseas.

Lewin and Bromby will be accompanied onboard by the bulk of their Gold Cup crews and will use the race as a warm-up ahead of September's Bacardi Nationals.

Other skippers set to compete include Andreas Lewin, a three-time Etchells champion and former Olympian windsurfer Hughie Watlington.

Sunday will be the first time since May's International Race Week that both Bromby and Lewin have seen action among the local Etchells fleet.

On that occasion, Bromby captured a third straight KF Trimingham title while Lewin finished second competing onboard American skipper Tim Lynch's boat.

Race action begins at 10 a.m.