This year’s Long Distance Comet Race will be a special one for sailing siblings Taj and Tre Maxwell.

The Berkeley Institute students are sailing together in the popular race for the first time and are keen to do more than just make up the numbers in the one-design, double-handed Comet dinghy fleet.

“I’m hoping that Taj and I work out our game plan early in the race and finish in the top ten,” Tre said.

“I’m feeling good as this year I get to helm and make my own decisions, and it will be even better with Taj on board.”

Tre, the 16-year-old skipper, has a good idea of what to expect having made his race debut in 2014 as a crew for Geovanni Masters.

“It’s a very fun race and the distance gives you a lot of time to think about your next move,” Tre said. “The start of the race is very intense and you want to do your best because of all the spectators watching.

“It’s great that the spectators come out and show support, but once you are on the course you focus more on your opponents and less on the spectators.”

The last time two siblings sailed together in the race was in 2008 when future Olympians Jesse and Zander Kirkland became the first brothers to seize line honours.

Incidentally, the Maxwell siblings are representing the Mid Atlantic Boat Club which is the same club the Kirklands represented the year they won.

Even though this will be the first time the pair have competed together in this particular race, it will not be the first time the Maxwell brothers have sailed in the same boat.

“Tre and I have sailed as a team for many years so we will have an advantage,” Taj said.

“I’m sure we will have fun and I am looking forward to the experience and how the distance affects our mentality.

“I’m expecting it to be more of a physical workout. I haven’t sailed this type of distance continuously, so I expect it to require a lot of energy and strength.

“I’m very excited to participate in the annual tradition and in a few years to come I hope to win the race.”

This year’s Long Distance Comet Race for the Edward Cross Cup takes place on June 20 and will start in St George’s Harbour and finish in the Great Sound, the venue for next year’s America’s Cup.

Stevie Dickinson, who has won the Edward Cross Cup a record 18 times, is the four-times defending champion having captured a third straight title last year sailing with crew Sarah Lane Adderley.