Veteran sailor Rudy Bailey has dismissed Jessie Kirkland's triumph in last year's Long Distance Comet Race as a fluke.

And to back up his claim the ten-time Edward Cross Cup winner has vowed to set the record straight in next Monday's prestigious race from the Great Sound to St. George's Harbour.

"Those kids (Jessie and Zander Kirkland) had the biggest break of their lives last year . . . it was just as much of a fluke as Heath Foggo winning it that year (2001)," the outspoken sailor told The Royal Gazette.

"Those kids don't race Comets and have never raced directly against me. I was praying Kirkland would make it this year and it looks as though he will. My prayer has been answered.

"I would like to sail against Kirkland one-on-one and if collegiate sailing and coaching is all that great, they will kick my butt. But if it's not, the old veterans will kick theirs – that's it."

Jessie Kirkland recently led his St Mary's College to a first Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association National Championship.

Bailey added: "The race is not going to be as wide open as people think. It's all going to boil down to the same two guys . . . it will be Dickinson and Bailey battling all the way down.

"Gladwin (Lambert) and Kirkland will probably be left fighting for third and fourth – that's pretty much it in a nutshell.

"Those kids will finish in the top five, but they will not win unless Dickinson (multiple Edward Cross Cup winner Stevie Dickinson) and myself get into a serious battle.

"I sail better when I am angry . . . and I am still angry from last year."

Bailey had plenty of reason to be frustrated last year after his dinghy (Temptation) capsized and lost its tiller while under tow from Somerset prior to the start of the race.

He eventually did well to recover considerable ground and finish a respectable third overall.

However, the West End Sail Boat Club skipper is convinced the outcome of last year's race might have been completely different had he not endured misfortune beyond his control.

"My boat won't be upside down 20 minutes before the race and I will make the start this year," Bailey added.

Current champion Kirkland, who held off Dickinson in a classic two-boat battle en route to a maiden Edward Cross Cup, refuses to be drawn into all the pre-race hype and has opted to stay focused on his own race rather than others.

"You just have to put everything else aside," he said. "It's just another sail boat race and hopefully we can come out on top."

Kirkland will be joined onboard this year by soon-to-be St. Mary's school-mate Joshua Greenslade.

"I'm definitely excited about the race and also excited about having a new person in the boat," Kirkland added. "It should be a fun race and we will just try and go out there and treat it like any other race."