cut out when the Colorcraft Gold Cup gets underway tomorrow.

Barboza and Astwood -- the latter a late replacement for Paula Lewin -- face some of the cream of the sailing world in the qualifying rounds of the event in Hamilton Harbour.

The pair are among 16 unseeded skippers who will be battling it out tomorrow and Monday for the chance to race against their seeded counterparts later in the week.

After a series of round robin races the top four skippers from two groups of eight will advance.

Barboza booked his place in the qualifying event when he won the Black Seal Cup for the Bermuda National Match Racing Championship.

Lewin came second, making her the final qualifier, but she instead opted to crew for visiting America's Cup skipper Dennis Conner -- one of the seeded skippers -- thus opening up the opportunity for Astwood.

Barboza, Astwood and their crews, sponsored by Goslings, will compete as Team Black Seal for the event.

Among their opponents will be Sten Mohr who is ranked third in the world.

The Dane placed third in the World Match Racing Championships this year and has placed consistently in the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour -- the final round of which is incorporated in the week's event.

Another big name in the sailing fraternity is Cameron Appleton. The New Zealander is a talented young helmsman who is the back-up to Team New Zealand's leader and skipper Dean Barker for the next America's Cup defence.

Jes Gram-Hansen is another Dane who is riding high in the rankings.

The 28-year-old teacher is number eight in the world and was the second seed in last year's Gold Cup.

Aussie James Spithill is just 21-years-old but earned respect as a tough competitor skippering Young Australia at the America's Cup in Auckland.

Twice World Junior Match Racing Champion, he first raced in Bermuda two years ago as an unseeded entrant and is currently 14th in the world rankings.

Unseeded entrants: John Adams (USA); Cameron Appleton (New Zealand); Dalton Bergan (USA); John Cutler (New Zealand); Chris Dickson (New Zealand); Jes Gram-Hansen (Denmark); Kelvin Harrap (New Zealand); Andy Horton (USA); Chris Larson (USA); Inga Leask (UK); Sten Mohr (Denmark); Murray Jones (New Zealand); James Spithill (Australia); Neville Wittey (Australia); Adam Barboza (Bermuda); Glenn Astwood (Bermuda).

Unseeded race schedule Sunday 9.00 a.m.: Qualifier (seven races -- round robin).

Monday 9.00 a.m.: Qualifier (seven races -- round robin).