International Race Weekend organisers are bracing themselves for another highly competitive series as top local skippers take on some of the best sailors from the US.

So far around 80 boats in eight different classes have signed up for the week-long regatta which gets underway in the Great Sound next Sunday.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) Commodore Les Crane says he is particularly enthusiastic about this year's racing as it marks the event's 75th anniversary.

“We are extremely excited to have approximately 80 boats competing in this, the 75th anniversary of the first International Race Week in Bermuda,” he said.

“This is a good turnout and the event is going to be even more special because of the anniversary.

“The history of the event is quite interesting. It goes back to 1927 when the races were contested in the six-metre design which was the predecessor of the current International One Designs.”

This year's regatta, hosted by the RBYC, will mark the return of the Comet class after a one-year break. Also competing will be International Etchells, a class in which Bermuda's Peter Bromby is the defending champion.

American Don Wagoner is the current J-24 champion, while compatriot Bruce Dyson is the reigning International One Design champion.

In the Laser class, Bermudian Brett Wright will be looking to duplicate his winning exploits of a year ago, while in the Snipe class fellow Bermudian Stevie Dickinson is the defending skipper.

Rudy Bailey will again lead the local charge in the Comet class.

American Alexander Meller will be back to defend her 505 class title and local skipper Derek Ratteray will represent the Island in the new J-105 class which has been added to the regatta.

The Sunfish class has been scrapped from this year's event.