they take to the water for the start of dinghy racing season.

Veteran skipper Mr. Paul White will take the helm of his family's dinghy, Port Royal II , when she makes her debut in St. George's Harbour.

It has been more than 40 years since the dinghy racing crowd has seen the bright yellow boat on the water.

Designed by businessman Mr. Eldon Trimingham's father, Port Royal I -- also painted the trademark yellow -- was retired in 1952.

But Mr. Paul White's nephew Jonathan White, 22, decided two years ago it was time the family got back into dinghy racing.

"Sailing and boat building are the most traditional features of Bermuda's heritage,'' he said. " Port Royal I was originally in the family, and I just thought, `Why not have another one?''' With the help of his uncle, father Edric and cousins Stephen, Brian and William White, who skippers the dinghy Elizabeth , Port Royal II became a reality.

Port Royal II will join Elizabeth in sailing out of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, where the christening and launching will take place on April 3.

Mr. Jonathan White drew up the plans and, with the financial backing of his father and uncle, sent them overseas to the yacht-design firm of Barkman and Stevens for modification.

After the White family made final revisions to the plans, they were sent off to the yacht-building firm of Lyman and Morris.

A shell was sent back last October and the Whites got to work immediately, transforming it into a traditional Bermuda fitted dinghy.

Ribs and cleats were added, bow splints and spinnaker poles were made, and lots of sanding and varnishing required to accomplish a sleek and shiny finish.

"Hundreds of hours were spent by all of us,'' said Mr. Jonathan White. The final cost was "well under $100,000'', which was what Elizabeth , built two years ago, was estimated to cost.

Port Royal II is 14-foot long on the waterline (14.5 feet is the maximum length allowed) and has a five-point measurement of 100 cubic feet, making it an average-sized dinghy as they range from 98 to 118 cubic feet.

Mr. Jonathan White said the family had stuck to the traditional dinghy design, borrowing concepts from last year's winners Contest and Challenger . There were a few secrets to its design, he said, but they were "keeping quiet about them''.

He would only divulge: "We just moved a couple of small things in and out where we thought they would work.'' Although the family "wouldn't mind a couple of wins'', they just want to be competitive, he said, adding the crew was what made a dinghy a winner.

Port Royal II will join Sandys Boat Club's Challenger and Echo , RHADC's Elizabeth , Maritime Museum's Bloodhound , the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Contest and St. George's Dinghy and Sport's Club's Victory .

There has been no word on whether SGDSC's Venture , owned by Mr. Norman Roberts, will come out of retirement this season. She has not competed for two years.

READY TO RACE -- Veteran sailor Mr. Paul White (right) and family members (from left) Jonathan, Stephen, William and Edric, proudly show off their just-built Bermuda fitted dinghy Port Royal II .