Stevie Dickinson taking honours for a record equalling 11th time in the West End Long Distance comet race on Monday.

The popular event starts from the West End club in Dockyard at 11.00 a.m. and will finish in St. George's Harbour off the East End Mini Yacht Club. This year's fleet will consist of 25 boats, up by two from a year ago.

Last year Dickinson's hopes of joining Alton Millett on a record 11 wins were floored by American Mark Hess who finished first from St. George's to Somerset in Shashu while becoming the first non-Bermudian to triumph.

Rudy Bailey was second to Hess in Temptation while Byron MacCallum placed third in Shogun . Dickinson finished sixth.

Dickinson will again be challenged by Bailey, McCallum, Gladwin Lambert in Melody , Howard Lee in High Yella , Colin Clarke in Nymph and Astwood whose sailing ability has been well documented in other classes, particularly the tornado.

Having established himself as a good multi-hull and keel sailor at both the domestic and international level, Astwood is eager to test his skills in this race for the first time as a skipper. And he doesn't intend to simply help make up the numbers.

"I would hope to be more than a strong challenger. I hope to be there when the role is called,'' said Astwood. "Although I am a multi-hull keel boat sailor, I have raced comets before. The last time was four years ago when I placed third twice in an invitational race off Somerset.'' "I don't know what to expect, but I don't expect any real difficulty,'' added Astwood who in the past has crewed for Bailey and Cal Lynch in the same race.

His boat, Radical , is the newest of the comet fleet and based at the Mid Atlantic Club.

Dickinson, who has been helping Astwood prepare Radical for the race, says he isn't worried about equalling the record. He just wants to compete and do his best.

"I feel real confident going into the race. The boat is sailing and rigged well. I am sailing well and we'll just see what happens,'' said Dickinson.

"It's good to see Glenn in the race for the first time. I am not too familiar with his boat, but they are practically all the same.'' Dickinson makes no secret of the fact that he would have liked to have seen defending champion Hess enter, especially after beating the American handily during International Race Week this year.

"It was my way of getting back at him for sailing so well in the Long Distance race last year, too bad he can't be here this year. We all would have wanted to give him a little message,'' said Dickinson.