The 49th Newport Bermuda Race will be a family affair for Jim Butterfield.

The former Olympic rower, who has made two previous appearances in the 635-mile race, is sailing with his son Spencer aboard the triple masted sloop Spirit of Bermuda, which he has chartered in support of Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s youth development programme.

“Fathers and sons don’t get to do an awful lot, so those few times are precious,” Butterfield said. “It’s very special for us to sail home together.”

Butterfield, who represented Bermuda at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, has no doubts that Spencer will be equal to the task having made several ocean crossings previously.

“Spencer is an ocean crosser and loves doing it so it’s in his blood,” Butterfield said. “Tyler did an ocean crossing once and didn’t like it, so it’s not like he’s feeling left out or anything.”

Spencer, who is also being accompanied by several of his in-laws, added: “This is something dad is excited about and I guess he has been inspired to be involved with Spirit of Bermuda for a while, so it’s not something I’m going to let him do by himself.”

He added: “I have done a lot of ocean crossings but on motor vessels, so this is my first time on a sail boat and first time in Newport and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Spirit of Bermuda is literally in a class of her own as the sole entry in the Spirit of Tradition Division.

But she could find the going uneventful in predicted light air conditions during the early stages of the race.

“It looks like it might be a slow start,” Spencer said. “But by the time the fleet hits the north side of the Gulf Stream we might have some wind, which might be favourable conditions for a boat that size at that point.”

Karen McDonald, the captain of Spirit of Bermuda, added: “Some of the forecast models are showing that we should have 15-20 knots by Sunday. And at least we have that because other forecast models are showing no wind until Monday.”

Butterfield said: “We are in with a bunch of race horses all anxious for light air while we are hoping for heavy air and some big seas to move the boat back home.”

Spirit of Bermuda is sailing with a crew of 29 that also includes navigator Larry Rosenfeld and watch captains James Baxter, Tre Jones and Negasi Tucker.

“Racing is always exciting, especially at the start and finish,” Baxter said. “In between is always full of laughs depending on the weather. And hopefully we have good weather.”

Also flying Bermuda’s banner in the race is the Corby 41 Nasty Medicine, helmed by captain Dr Stephen Sherwin, and the J-125 Crossfire, helmed by Brian Hillier.

Nasty Medicine is competing in the St David’s Lighthouse Division and Crossfire in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division. Racing gets underway off the shores of Castle Hill, Newport today at 2pm.