The 40 year-old skipper has made considerable inroads in the sport over the past two years, placing third in 2002 and second last year behind current cup holder Stevie Dickinson.

Now, the East End Mini Yacht Club skipper is confident this will be his year to finally break through.

?I see myself taking honours this year. If Stevie (Dickinson) didn?t have that little piece of rope (last year) I would have passed him. I think I just need to sail hard throughout the entire race course and I don?t believe I have any real weak points ? though sometimes I think I lack concentration,? said Ramirez.

The skipper said he anticipates stalwarts Dickinson, Rudy Bailey, Howard Lee and Howard Simons to be extremely tough to beat on the day while also pencilling in James Perry and Scott Fox as potential race favourites.

He added: ?This is a long race and many things can change over the duration of the course. Those who can make the necessary adjustments will have the most success and there are many sailors in the fleet who can take line honours on any given day.

?Any sailor who plays all of their cards right has just as good a chance of winning as any other. Sailing is like a game of chess.

When it comes to the Long Distance Comet Race, two-time champion Gladwin Lambert has a wealth of experience having been competing in the annual regatta since the tender age of 17.

Lambert first competed for the Edward Cross Cup in 1965 in a wooden hull built by uncle Raymond Lambert and himself in back yard of the former?s Scaur Hill, Somerset residence.

Twelve years later, Lambert sailed to glory in 1977 before duplicating the achievement in 1992.

Monday will be the 55 year-old skipper?s 38th start in the annual regatta, while his father Caunt Lambert (deceased) won the very first Long Distance race in 1944.

?I feel I have been sailing consistently this season but there is still some room for improvement,? said Lambert, who finished sixth in last year?s race.

?My confidence is high and I am feeling comfortable by the way I am sailing. I feel my chances are just as good as anyone else, and I have already proved that I can hang with the big boys.?

He added: ?It?s going to be a little ticklish this year because we are coming out of St.George?s. Normally we have a flying start straight out of St.George?s Cut and depending on the wind direction it could be difficult.

?We might be talking about 26 comets here ? a real jam up. So getting out in front from the start heading out of the cut will be very crucial.?Winning would be the ideal birthday present for veteran skipper James Perry who celebrated his 44th birthday last Sunday.

Having won the coveted Cup as crew of legendary skipper Alton Millet in Kitty Hawk in the late 1980s, Perry now hopes to keep the latter?s boat ? currently owned by 13-times champion and current cup holder Stevie Dickinson ? behind his stern when the racing fleet make way from St.George?s harbour to The Great Sound.

He confidently explained: ?We?ve worked on the boat () and got a new paint job and since she (the boat) has been sprayed up she?s been ready to roll.

?We?ve also re-rigged the boat with the help of Stevie (Dickinson) and I have to give much of the credit to him (Dickinson) for helping to tune the boat. And hopefully he?s tuned it to the point where we can go right past him this year.?

Perry added: ?This is definitely the Bermuda Comet Association?s biggest race of the season and is one that has eluded me for a few years ? though I have been in a boat (Millet?s ) that has won it.

?I don?t feel any pressure on me... I just go out there to enjoy it.?When Heath Foggo stormed to Edward Cross Cup glory in 2001, many predicted his triumph was the dawning of a new era.

However the past CAC Games silver medallist has endured mixed fortunes on the surf while work commitments have grossly diminished his time to sail with the fleet.

Still, the 38-year-old skipper is confident of acquitting himself well in next week?s regatta.

?I haven?t been very competitive at all this year,? he pointed out. ?So although I am not expecting to win, anything is possible. So I am just going out there to compete.

?Under normal circumstances I put more time into the boat (); getting things ready and other stuff like that. It?s always nice to be in contention but I haven?t been able to this season due to work commitments.?