Brian Smith, the Bermuda Power Boat Association (BPBA) commodore, has predicted a 'wide open' contest in tomorrow's annual Round The Island Race.

With last year's champions Mark and David Selley unable to defend their crown because of school commitments, Smith has tipped the father-and-son team of Stephen and Brendon DeSilva to take the coveted crown.

But a host of other rookies will also be chasing the vacated title which the Selley twins claimed last year by holding off a late surge from ex-champion Andy Stoneham in their B Class phantom.

"It's going to be wide open but I think Stephen and Brendon DeSilva in the FB Class will mount a real challenge," said Smith.

"This year it's hard to tell who will win but I feel the DeSilva's could be the first to take line honours as long as they don't have any gremlins come out and bite them.

"They've dominated the whole field this season and have to be the top contenders."

Smith expects more than –30 boats to be competing in –seven classes, from the S Class to the Thundercats.

The power boat chief believes the improving number of entries is down to the BPBA adopting a more aggressive approach to raising their sport's profile.

"The numbers have been low for such a long time so it's encouraging to see a decent sized fleet this year," he said.

"We've changed our strategy and I think we're a bit more structured and organised than may be we have been in the past.

"I've been driving the committee pretty hard to go out there and do things differently, be more aggressive.

"Unfortunately, people get mad at me for doing what I do but I'm a perfectionist.

"But they've worked 110 percent and I think we've been successful at being more visual in the public.

"We've also dropped the dues down a bit to make it easier on people's pockets and entice them a little bit."

Despite their limited experience in this event, Smith reckons the rookie racers will be more than up to the challenge, as long as the conditions are favourable.

Among those making their race debut include father-and-son duo Gregg Simons and Greg Focke in the smaller A Class and Tonka Simpson in the FB Class with co-driver Teko Bean.

The Round The Island Race starts tomorrow at Ferry Reach at 1.55 p.m.

n The Department of Marine and Ports have advised the public of some marine guidelines in advance of this weekend's Round the Island Race.

The course of the race will encompass the following areas; Ferry Reach, North Shore, Two Rock Passage, Hamilton Harbour, Granaway Deep, Port Royal Bay, Great Sound, Commissioner's Point, Fort St. Catherine's Point and St. David's.

In the interest of public safety Marine Police and Race Marshalls will be patrolling all areas.

During the race, mariners are strongly encouraged to use extreme caution when navigating in these areas.