Engines primed and revving, Bermuda's powerboat fleet will contest the 40th consecutive edition of the Round the Island Race on Sunday.

With some 38 entries set to compete in eight separate classes, Bermuda Power Boat Association commodore Chris Roque has urged the public to come out and witness what he promises will be another exciting event.

Last year, cousins David and Stuart Durham powered their B class entry across the finish line at Ferry Reach to take the chequered flag in a record time of 50 minutes, 58.45 seconds.

S class honours were taken by Daric Seymour and Andy Stoneham, the second boat to cross the finish line but in a record-breaking time of 36 minutes and 19 seconds.

Steven Bridges and John Stephens are the defending C class champions while Roderick and Kelly Sims are set to defend their A class title.

Sean White and Michael Mello will not be back this year to defend their D class crown.

In the Personal Watercraft Division (jet ski), Jason North will attempt to retain the Stock 800 title while Kevin Sousa will defend the Stock 1200 division. Jonathon Soares is the defending Modified champion.

The Personal Watercraft race gets the day's races underway at 12 noon before the green flag finally falls on the main event at 2 p.m.

"We have three S class boats which promises to be good - that's the big boys," Roque explained.

"We have Eddie Roque coming out of the closet and back into racing and Morris Correia is also coming back out to race this year. D class has a brand new entry this year in Chris Franks and Anthony Rego."

Jesse Furtado and Richard Correira are the current points leader in the D class.

Last year's A class competitors Michael Lopes and Joseph Vieira have also moved up a class and will now be competing in the B class.

So far this season, Lopes and Vieira have dominated the local racing circuit, tasting defeat on only one occasion.

Craig Selley is also expected to mount a challenge for top honours in the B class.

Roque, meanwhile, has urged pleasure craft on Sunday to stay behind the crash boats.

"They will have large red flags with marker buoys marking out the areas of hot contention like Hog Fish Beacon, the Pylons (Ferry Reach), Five Star Island, Pompano Beach and in general the entire race course," he said

The prize presentation will take place immediately following Sunday's races at Flanagan's Pub beginning at 7 p.m.