As the days dwindle towards the June 16 start of the biennial Newport-to-Bermuda Race, excitement continues to build around the two-storey, Bermuda-pink and green structure that is the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, situated at the tip of Albouy's Point.

Final preparations are being made to welcome the veritable armada of racing craft, which range from the 72-foot Ketch Ticonderoga to Seaquester a 34-foot Sun. Earlier this week 180 vessels were confirmed for the event, which has blossomed this year in the face of a booming economy and absence of the America's Cup.

Perched firmly in the hot seat, but relishing every moment of it, is Somers Cooper, current Commodore of the local host club, enduring what will be his first and last time overseeing the Bermuda Race -- commodores at RBYC are only allowed a single two-year tenure.

Things such as organising the finish line crews, berthing, housing for crew and the like are ongoing, but Cooper anticipated all would be in sound order in good time.

"There are a lot of details to be completed -- `i's' to be dotted and `t's' to be crossed. The race chairman (Ron Trossbach) up in the States is extremely busy, as his deadline is a bit closer than ours,'' said Cooper, who has been involved with the sport of sailing since before he was even able to walk.

"We had our finish line briefing the other night and there's around 50 volunteers that are very dedicated who will man the (St. David's) Lighthouse night and day. They were briefed on the latest turn of events, which includes instant posting to the Bermuda Race web page.

"As soon as a boat is across the line and logged in on paper, it is then logged in on the web and instantly around the world -- within five minutes of a boat finishing -- anyone who wants to know, will know.'' Organisers of the regatta anticipate a bumper fleet, including close to a half-dozen local boats. Buddy Rego and Bill Riker will co-skipper Hiano , a chartered Swan 48, and are joined by the likes of Warren Brown ( War Baby ), Colin Couper ( Babe ), Leslie Crane ( Monterey ) and Paul Hubbard ( Bermuda Oyster ). Meanwhile, prominent Bermudian yachtsman and Newport veteran Kirk Cooper is teaming with American Richard Shulman aboard Temptress , a Swan 51 that finished second overall two years ago.

Latest reports have the number of entries hovering around 180 boats in more than six classes, including the super-quick Maxi yachts that can be expected to take not much more than two days to make the 635-mile crossing, as well as the newly introduced `Classic Yacht' division. The most ever recorded in a race was 178 back in 1982.

"We're expecting a record, near record or equal record in terms of number of boats, so there will be an awful lot of people descending on Bermuda, hence it will not only be a competitive race, but quite interesting once people get here,'' continued Cooper, who admitted to suffering from a occasional bouts of the `butterflies' as events draw nearer.

"The yacht club's new marina also adds a new facet to the equation. In the past we could only have about 75 or 80 boats at the yacht club, now we're able to contain up to 150 and have reservations for 130 so far. So the yacht club will really be the beehive of activity, moreso than it has in the past.

"It's such a major yachting event in the world and the fact that we're able to host it is a real feather in our cap. It's not just a race that's important to people in the north-east United States and Bermuda, but people around the world really take notice of this race and it has the prestige associated with it, especially the Lighthouse Trophy, which is probably one of the most recognised trophies in yachting -- in the top five at least, with the America's Cup number one.'' The Bermuda race has been termed on occasion as the `Grand Prix' of ocean races, with many entries containing professional skippers and crews.

While the rival Marion Race involves basically the same course across the Atlantic, that is where the similarities end. In stark contrast to Marion, which is basically a cruising regatta involving friends and family, the Bermuda Race is acknowledged as a `drag race', with the intensity meter high, as are the financial outlays by rival entries.

And Bermuda can expect a financial boost, with recent studies estimating there to be a more than $3 million windfall with the influx of boats and crew.