Stevie Dickinson will rest his Edward Cross Cup title on the line in Monday’s Annual Long Distance Comet Race.

The East End Mini Yacht Club sailor won the race a record sixteenth time in Kitty Hawk last year with crew Gerrick Farquharson and is optimistic he can retain his title when the fleet sets sail from St George’s Harbour to the Great Sound.

“Like always, I feel that if I can sail good enough I can win the race,” Dickinson said. “But there are other things to think about like spectator boats, wind direction, how boats separate and that type of stuff. You can only find all that out on the day and work out your strategy then.”

Dickinson will have his work cut out against the likes of perennial rival Rudy Bailey, Rockal Evans and East End Mini Yacht Club stablemates Heath Foggo and Scott Fox.

Dickinson defeated Fox to the downwind finish line in last year’s race. He will also have to contend with promising youngsters like Peter Dill and Benn Smith who are among several junior teams expected to compete.

“With so many young sailors that are coming in now and I am becoming an old dog,” Dickinson said. “You have to keep up with these young sailors that are so smart and fast and for me to compete with them is a wonderful thing. The fleet is really competitive.”

One rival Dickinson will not have to worry about is West Sail Boat Club stalwart Gladwin Lambert who will miss the race through illness.

Lambert’s son, Lorenzo, is competing in his father’s absence.

Even though Dickinson has been competing in this race for nearly four decades he still gets pumped up for the big occasion.

“You get on the starting line and you are anxious to go and once you start moving everything sorts itself out.

Around 20 comets are expected to make to the starting line for the 11am start. The Department of Marine and Ports have advised mariners to give adequate clearance and minimal wake in the vicinity of the racing fleet as they make their way out of St George’s Harbour, up the North Shore and into the Great Sound towards the finish line off the premises of race hosts’ West End Sail Boat Club.

Around 20 comets are expected to make to the starting line for the 11am start.