Boomerang's pursuit and subsequent success in establishing a new record for the fastest crossing, no such talk -- at least not yet -- has been associated with this year's Marion Bermuda Cruising Race, starting on June 20.

After all, while both involve massive, majestic craft tackling the adventures that lie within the vastness of the Atlantic, particularly the Gulf Stream, the pair are like night and day in terms of approach.

Yes, there are some that enter the Marion event with the sole intention of winning and making the journey a supremely swift one. However, as the name states, this is a cruising race, one which allows family and friends to participate and enjoy.

"There are some people that naturally sail hard and they want to win,'' explained John Carey, liaison between local hosts Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club and Blue Water Sailing Club and Beverly Yacht Club of the United States. "It's a cruising race and they're going to comply with all the rules and they want to win. There are other people that just say `if I happen to win this race...' "I think that nobody's really looking at the record. I think if the weather conditions are right, and the wind is in the right direction, and all things go well any year can be open to it. It just depends on the circumstances prevailing at the time. But certainly I don't think that in the Marion Race that you've got people that are really shooting for the record.'' Unlike Newport, spinnakers are not allowed, while encouraged is the use of celestial navigation over that of modern, scientific techniques.

However, in order to enhance and open up the race to a wider spectrum, this year has seen a relaxing of certain restrictions, with Global Position Satellite (GPS) being allowed for the first time; limitations of sail cloth dropped; and the maximum length for participating yachts increased from 60 to 62 feet LOA.

"We wanted this to be a cruising race rather than an alms race, where the guy with the most bucks wins the race,'' said Carey, noting reasons for earlier restrictions.

"It's a family and friends type of sailing, there's no professional sailors involved and the fact that it is wholly and solely a cruising race tends to make families and friends come out. And I think that the hospitality in Marion and Bermuda and all the fellowship associated with the regatta are all part of what makes it special.'' Organisers are targeting in the region of 125-130 entrants, although they could handle more.

So far four Bermuda skippers have either entered or expressed strong interest in doing so, with Buddy Rego, Colin Couper, Derek Ratteray and Paul Hubbard reportedly in early preparations.

Next month will see Carey, who is also charged with handling matters of race management, jetting out to attend and be a panelist at a sailing symposium in Cambridge, Massachusetts aimed at enlightening those on specific areas regarding the passage to Bermuda.

Topics to be discussed include medical emergencies, sail power, ORC regulations, the Gulf Stream and other weather patterns, strategy and navigation, arriving in Bermuda, as well as the return trip.

Said Carey: "I think they're looking for all the information they can get, which will enable them to have a lot of fun when they come down, but more importantly to have a safe passage and have some fun in the race. That's what it's all about essentially.''