Since its inception more than a century ago the biennial Newport Bermuda Race has evolved into one of the most exciting and ‘must do’ events on every sailor’s list of ocean races.And John Osmond, Newport Bermuda Race chairman, anticipates this year’s 635-mile ocean crossing will be no exception.“The yachts that will race in the Newport Bermuda Race 2012 are a very impressive fleet,” he said. “Each Division and Class will participate in a tradition that spans 106 years of ocean racing and adventure. This 2012 fleet will compete with the very elite of offshore sailing teams.”A total of 170 boats have been approved by the race committee with one entry still awaiting approval.Ninety-five boats have registered in the amateur St David’s Lighthouse Division, 17 in the professional Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse Division, 33 in the Cruiser Division, 19 in the Double Handed Division and five in the Open Division. Five boats have yet to indicate which division they intend to compete in.Bermuda will be represented by four yachts in the upcoming Newport Bermuda Race that gets underway June 15 off Castle Hill, Newport, Rhode Island and concludes several days later off St. David’s Lighthouse, Bermuda.Flying the Island’s banner are Dr Stephen Sherwin’s Corby 41.5, Nasty Medicine, Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s schooner, Spirit of Bermuda, Amanda Mochrie’s Class 40, 40 Degrees and Mark Watson’s R/P 74, Tiburon.Lawyer Mochrie and Argo Group CEO Watson will compete in yachts chartered from a private owner in the UK and the US Merchant Marine Academy.In the last Newport Bermuda Race Watson won the Open Division - comprised of the largest and fastest boats in the fleet - in a corrected time of 54 hours, 43 minutes and 32 seconds onboard the US Merchant Marine Academy -owned Dubois 90, Genuine Risk.Spirit of Bermuda is sailing in the new Spirit of Tradition Division and is the only traditional designed vessel in an overall fleet that includes Peter S. Rebovich’s Sinn Fein and Rives Potts’ Carina which have won the previous three St David’s Lighthouse trophies.Roughly 40 boats in both Newport Bermuda Lighthouse Divisions are expected to complete the five-race Onion Patch Series comprising of the New York Yacht Club 158th Annual Regatta, Newport Bermuda Race and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) Anniversary Regatta.The Newport Bermuda Race is organised by the Cruising Club of America and the RBYC.