National Championship of Match Racing, beginning on Sunday in Hamilton Harbour.

Hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the week-long regatta will see sailors competing in Etchell 22 boats for the Goslings Black Seal Cup -- and the right to compete in the $100,000 Brut Gold Cup, beginning on October 8.

Among the competitors are former Gold Cup champions Adam Barboza, Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin. Rouding out the field are former Olympian Glenn Astwood, fitted dinghy ace Andreas Lewin, Bruce Lines and John Thompson.

The format calls for a round-robin series, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The top two teams have his or her choice of whom they will race in the best-of-five series, with the two winners meeting for the championship.

Twenty-four of the top match racing teams in the world are expected in Bermuda for the 48th edition of the Gold Cup, one of the premier match racing events in the world.