Rudy Bailey is set to resume his rivalry with East End Mini Yacht Club skipper Stevie Dickinson in the Annual Long Distance Comet Race.

The West End Sail Boat Club skipper has not competed in the offshore dinghy race since his victory in 2012 when he lifted the Edward Cross Cup for the eleventh time sailing with sibling George Bailey in Temptation.

In fact, Bailey has not competed at all on the domestic scene in the past two years, making only cameo appearances in the United States, where he is a multiple International and North American Comet champion.

Bailey’s preparations for Monday’s race have been anything but ideal, with any chance of getting in some practice dashed because of ongoing repairs being done to his Comet, which suffered extensive damage during hurricane Fay and Gonzalo last October.

“I was off the island so I wasn’t around to secure the boat when the two hurricanes hit,” Bailey said.

“The boat’s hull suffered major damage. But 90 per cent of the repair work is completed and the boat will be ready for Monday. It’s not going to be the prettiest boat, but it will be fast.”

The Bailey brothers have an added incentive this year as they are vying for a third Long Distance Comet Race title sailing together.

There is also plenty of incentive for Dickinson, the two-times defending champion, who is gunning for a third consecutive victory and eighteenth overall.

Dickinson will enter the race high on confidence after securing a third-place finish at last weekend’s International Etchells National Championship.

Others expected to be thick in the hunt are former winners Gladwin Lambert, Rockal Evans and Heath Foggo.

This year’s fleet also consists of some of the Island’s most promising sailors, including Cecilia Wollman who will represent Bermuda at next month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto in the Laser Radial.

Monday’s race starts at 11am in the Great Sound and ends in St George’s Harbour.

The Long Distance Comet Race is sanctioned by the West End Sail Boat Club.