The Bermuda Power Boat Association will stage the season opening St George’s Marine Expo Race in St George’s Harbour tomorrow.

The event will feature four classes, A, B, D and S, which will compete in two timed races over a triangular racecourse for early season bragging rights.

“As usual, we will be expecting all of our teams to bring the competitive edge with them,” Robert Cardwell, the BPBA commodore, said.

“This will be a fairly small racecourse so we will be looking for numerous laps where there are lots of options for overtakes and securing the lead. The races will be safe and quick.”

Both races will last 20 minutes with the first scheduled to start at 1pm. The St George’s Marine Expo will be held on Ordnance Island from 11am to 6pm and will feature the BPBA’s new junior racing class.

“Over this past winter period the BPBA executive have put a lot of energy into getting our junior programme off the ground and working out the logistics,” Cardwell said.

“We are pleased that Spar Yard have partnered with us and our first junior class boat build has come out of the mould. It is a European mould called the L7 and this boat will be on display at the St George’s Marine Expo.

“We have commissioned for six to be built and are working with engine vendors to get the best deal on motors for our junior class boat. We have four of the boats already sponsored and are actively seeking sponsors for the last two boats.

“Youngsters aged between 10 and 15 are restricted to a 6hp engine in law. However, we have worked with the Bermuda Port Authority and had this restriction lifted to allow BPBA junior members to operate a 15hp engine while racing under the BPBA flag and in accordance with all of our safety standards. This is pretty significant.

“We hope to get the junior programme off the ground and have our first races by this coming August and we will run it much like the Endeavour [sailing] programme. We want parent participation.”

The season consists of seven race days, including the Round the Island Race, and runs from May 5 to September 22.