Eight teams from four countries will compete for the inaugural Bermuda J/105 Invitational Regatta next month in local waters.

Sponsored by XL, the competition will be held from November 21 to 23 and will see sailors from the USA, Canada, UK, and Bermuda compete for three titles.

Teams will be made up of three international sailors and three Bermuda sailors who will sail together in each race, with races designated as “Bermuda” or “International”.

The respective nominated helmsman will skipper for that race and compete for either the Bermuda or International trophy, with all the team results counting towards the XL Trophy.

It will be the first time this format has been used in Bermuda but already the event is fully subscribed, limited by the number of local boats.

Among the prizes up for grabs are XL Trophy (overall series), the Bermuda Tourism Trophy (international series), and the Goslings Trophy (Bermuda series).

Racing will take place in the Great Sound, with the first race getting underway shortly after 10am each day.

A final fun race, “The Last Blast”, will round out the event.

One of the Island’s top Race Officers, Charles Tatem, will oversee the racing, and the event will be hosted by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.