Grant Simmer, the Oracle Team USA general manager, has sailed the International Etchells class at many destinations around the world.

Now he can add Bermuda to the list.

Simmer will make his debut in the class in the Great Sound today as the Etchells begin the racing in the 2016 Bermuda International Invitational Regatta.

“I’ve not been doing enough sailing recently, but I am looking forward to going racing this weekend,” Simmer said.

“The Etchell, of course, only goes six knots, so it will be very different from what we’ve seen on the AC45. The wind shifts are much more significant at slower speeds, so it will be more tactical racing whereas the 45s are mostly boat speed.”

Simmer is one of the most distinguished sailors taking part in the regatta having been crowned Australian Etchells champion on multiple occasions, and twice finished in the top three at the Etchells World Championships.

His America’s Cup resume includes four victories with three different syndicates: Australia, Switzerland, twice, and Oracle. And he has also served as chief executive officer with Team Origin, the former British challenger.

Simmer is perhaps best known as the navigator aboard the victorious Australian 12-metre syndicate representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club that beat American defender Liberty at the 25th America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island to end 132 years of American dominance.

The Australian skipper will renew rivalries with Bermuda hopeful Tim Patton, whom he competed against at last year’s Etchells World Championships in Hong Kong.

“There’s a small but enthusiastic fleet of Etchells here and I have been racing Etchells all over the world for the last five or six years,” Simmer said. “It’s a nice group of guys that race the Etchells worldwide.”

Designed in 1966 by American boat builder Elwood Widmer Etchells, the International Etchells is a racing class sailed by a crew of three or four sailors.

The one-design keelboat is extremely sensitive to subtle adjustments in tuning and trim and has a sleek hull with relatively little wetted surface area, which allows it to move well in the lightest breeze and fly in the heavier winds.

“It’s really tactical racing which I enjoy,” Simmer said. “Tactical and also they respond well to tuning so it’s quite technical to tune the boats properly.”

The Bermuda International Invitational Regatta swings into high gear tomorrow when the International One Design Class commence their series.

Peter Wickwire, of the Nova Scotia International One Design fleet, is the two-times defending champion but will have his work cut in a formidable IOD fleet that also features IOD world champion Jonathan Farrar, of the Fishers Island fleet, and seven-times IOD world champion Bill Widnall, who represents the Marblehead fleet.

Carrying Bermuda’s hopes in the IOD this year are Martin Seise, whose well-drilled crew includes Patrice Cooper, the Bermuda IOD champion, and Huie Watlington, who came to within striking distance of winning the Vrengen Cup several years ago.