Since 2002, the home town favourite has sailed to victory in the Annual Edward Cross Long Distance Comet Race from one end of the Island to the other.

But this doesn?t seem to faze defending champion Rudy Bailey in the least. He remains confident he can bring that streak to a grinding halt and retain the coveted Cross Memorial Cup when the fleet head from Somerset to the old town of St.George?s on Monday.

Bailey and daughter Danielle, sailing in regained the title last year that they relinquished to perennial rival Stevie Dickinson in 2003 in a race that all but ended just off the shores of Crawl Hill.

Now the veteran skipper is determined not to part company with last year?s hard earned spoils.

Heath Foggo was the last East End Mini Yacht Club skipper to win the annual regatta in Somerset in 2001 . But since then Bailey and Dickinson have dominated the proceedings.

?Everyone is basically going to be starting out at the same level,? said Bailey. ?It?s all going to be up to who is ready on that particular day, and I think I?m ready.?

Like Dickinson, Bailey is also a multiple winner of the prestigious regatta which traditionally attracts one of the largest spectator fleets of the summer sailing season.

The West End Sailboat skipper added: ? I think I am more than capable of winning. My boat is fast enough and my team work is secure enough. But I do expect substantial challenges from my arch rival (Dickinson), Gladwin Lambert (James Perry or even Byron McCallan ().

?Anyone of these skippers is capable of winning the regatta and so it should really be a good hook.?

Race weather forecasts call for easterly winds between ten and 15 knots ? precisely the conditions Dickinson thrives on.

The self-proclaimed white water king, exclaimed: ?Those conditions would be nice! The wind is supposed to come up on Monday but one can never tell. But if it does it will be a lot of work for all of us.

?I think it?s going to be a hell of a race. But we will be ready to go.?

Female crew member Ty Trott will again accompany Dickinson onboard the famed .

?We just want to go out there and sail aggressively,? added the 13-time Long Distance champion. ?It should be a good race and if the weather does make up a bit then we will definitely find out who is the fastest and smartest in the fleet.?

When asked which direction he preferred to race, Dickinson replied: ?It really doesn?t matter. I just love to go out there have a bit of fun and race.?

Dickinson, like the bulk of the local comet fleet, has seen limited action on the surf so far this campaign.

Next week?s regatta, held annually on the Queen?s Birthday, gets underway at 11 a.m. just off the West End Sailboat Club and finishes in St.George?s Harbour.

Another West End skipper who could mount a serious challenge for top honours is Jamie Harvey who has endured more than his share of near misses over the years.

?We just haven?t been able to put the right combination together yet,? he smiled. ?But I?m looking to compete. And I?ll certainly take a first win if it comes my way.?

East End skippers Scott Fox (), Foggo () and Romano Ramirez () are also among the pre-race favourites to take line honours this year.

Meanwhile, Comet Class Yacht Racing Association sailing chairman Gladwin Lambert has urged all spectator boats to steer clear of the race course and the finish line in St.George?s Harbour. A total of 26 boats are expected at the start line in Somerset.

?This year we have a race marshall on a jet ski,? the seasoned skipper revealed. ?And so we are asking people to be on the lookout for the special buoys (finish line) because they won?t be allowed to anchor their boats between the buoys.?

Monday will mark the regatta?s 61st anniversary. The inaugural race for the Edward Cross Cup was held in 1945 and won by Lambert?s father, Canute.