Trimingham Trophy from the hands of American Bob Bell during International Race Week.

The Etchells-class sailor finished a close second to Bell in last year's competition -- despite Bell's failure to win any of the series of six races.

But his consistency -- he came third in five outings -- did the trick as Patton had two firsts but also suffered a low of eighth.

"Yes, you can expect me to have at least one dreadful result,'' Patton said of the competition, beginning on Sunday.

"Personally, I'm always looking to win a race. Maybe because of that I take bigger chances than I should. Some of the others sail against the fleet and the race course. That may be better than what I do. I tend to sail against the race course.'' Bell, of course, enlisted some local help in his bid to win the title last year in the form of Peter Bromby. The only skipper looking to defend his trophy this time out, he has turned to Bermuda's top sailor, hailed by Bell as a master tactician, to crew again.

It is an irony not lost on Patton. Asked to nominate the opponent to watch out for he comments wryly: "Peter Bromby.'' But, more seriously, he reckons any one of 10 of the 13 three-man boats, could win the competition.

Briton Graham Bailey, who finished third 12 months ago, is among that list.

"He is a superb sailor,'' says Patton. "He has gone on to great things since last year, including winning the British nationals.'' American David Jones, a winner of the event twice, is another.

"And you'd have to put Andreas and Paula in there,'' he adds, referring to the Lewin siblings skippering separate boats in the competition.

The Etchells class, now the choice of top sailors such as Gold Cup match racers Peter Gilmour and Russell Coutts, is just one of seven represented during International Race Week.

Bill Widnall is expected to start as a hot favourite to take the International One Design title. Widnall, a multiple IOD world champion, crewed for winner Greg Mancusi-Ungaro last year.

However, Jan Petter Roed, one of two Norwegian skippers in the class -- Asbjorn Johnsen is the other -- could be a threat along with Brad Burnham and James Bishop, both of the US.

In the other big boat class, the J-24s, locals could come into their own.

Sheila Tasker, J-24 fleet representative, says: "We've got a pretty even playing field but Jon Corless has been looking good and may come in the top three.'' Among the smaller boat classes, the story is similar. Christian Luthi, in the Lasers fleet, expects Island-based crews to do well. Competitors in the single-handed dinghy include Brett Wright, who is preparing for a number of European regattas in May, and Malcolm Smith.

He says of the upcoming event: "It should be a fun regatta. I know Malcolm and Brett are going to be out to get their own back and I'm looking forward to some good racing.'' Luthi just ousted Smith for first place in the Bermuda Sailing Association Laser National Championships last Sunday.

In breezes ranging from eight to 15 knots, Luthi came back from capsising in the first race to win the next four of the six race series and claim his second nationals title.

The remaining classes are the JY-15s, Snipes and he Tornado catamarans.