Current world champion Anthony Houston and six-time world champion Bill Widnall will be among the pre-race favourites in the International One Design (IOD) class during the 80th annual Bermuda International Race Week to be hosted by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club next week.

The two world class skippers have been confirmed for this year’s regatta that attracts top sailors from Australia, Europe and North America, along with another past world champion John Burnham, Richard Pearce and past Vrengen Gold Cup winner Jan Petter Roed.

Last year’s joint runners-up Penny Simmons, BW Jordy Walker and Somers Kempe will carry Bermuda’s hopes in the highly competitive IOD fleet, while Englishman Giles Peckham will not be back to defend his title this year.

Bermuda’s 2008 Olympic hopeful Peter Bromby will defend his Etchells title, but could have his hands full trying to keep compatriots Tim Patton and Paula Lewin in his wake on the open water Alpha race course.

Local J-105 skipper Jon Corless will also rest his Race Week title on the line in a fleet consisting of only one overseas rival, Canada’s Jim Burns.

A new champion will be crowned among the J-24 fleet as last year’s winner Sean McDermott will not return to defend his title. 2004 Gripper Trophy winner Stuart Jardine from Britain and Bermuda’s Trevor Boyce are now pre-race favourites to lift the vacant title.

On the Bravo course, located just off the Spanish Point Boat Club, competition will be no less fierce among the Laser and Snipe classes .

Snipe skipper Jerry Thompson will be gunning for a coveted double next week. The American will attempt to defend his Anniversary Trophy title and simultaneously clinch the Snipe North American Championship.

With the Island also playing host to the Snipe North American Championships, race numbers have ballooned to 24 in a fleet that also contains local hopefuls Stevie Dickinson, Luis Chiapparro, Guy DeSilva, Lance Fraser and Ray Pitman.

Bermuda’s Malcolm Smith is poised to defend his title in the Lasers. But he could face strong challenges from the local quartet of Brett Wright, Sarah Lane Adderley, Jay Riihiluoma and Rockal Evans.

Due to a lack of overseas interest, however, the Comet class has again been scrapped from this year’s Race Week that officially swings into action on the Great Sound on Sunday with the opening series of races in the IOD, Etchells, J -24 and Lasers classes.