Reigning Etchells champion Peter Bromby will set out in defence of his title tomorrow when Bacardi International Race Week gets underway in the Great Sound.

Islander Bromby (Etchells) will join Chuck Millican (505's), John Thompson (J-105's) and Malcolm Smith in the Laser fleet as defending champions in this year's event. But Bermuda's Rudy Bailey (Comet) and Stevie Dickinson (Snipes) were both left high and dry after learning last week that their classes had withdrawn from event. Bailey is the reigning Comet champion.

While overall numbers of competitors for this year's regatta are down from last year, the International One Design (IOD) fleet will have its strongest showing in many years and will be the largest fleet competing in Race Week this year.

Defending American IOD champions Charles Van Voorhuis and Bruce Dyson, unlike several of their compatriots who decided against travelling to the Island over the situation in Iraq, failed to qualify for this year's series of races.

This year will again see all competitors challenging for top honours on two separate races courses out in the Great Sound. The Etchells, J-24s, IODs and J-105s will all contest out in the Great Sound with the smaller boats in the fleet, the Lasers and 505s, set to compete just off the shores of the Spanish Point Boat Club.

Racing gets underway at 11 a.m. tomorrow and continues on Monday through to Tuesday. Wednesday has been designated a rest day.

Action then resumes on Thursday with the final series of racing to conclude on Friday.

In all, there will be 22 dinghies and 41 keelboats competing.

Bromby is defending his title with a new crew, a new paint job and a renewed hunger for more success.

He has been extremely active overseas in the US already this year, having already competed in both the Rolex Olympic Regatta and US Pre-Olympic trials held in Miami among the Star Class.

He then followed that up by capturing the Bacardi Cup racing Star Class series which was also held in Miami, and has been getting in extra practice with Canadian Star Class Olympic hopefuls Paul Sustronk and crew Michael Wolfs on local waters over the past two weeks.

"I haven't had much time in the Etchells. But I have an excellent new crew. . . probably the best crew that I have had in a while," said Bromby.

Lee White and Dennis Correia have now joined ranks with Bromby onboard Trumps. The local pair replaced Martin Siese and Brian Hillier.

Local forecasters are predicting 20 to 25 knot breezes tomorrow.

"I wouldn't be surprised to some of the other local guys among the fleet (Etchells) also do well," he added. "So really, I think the race is wide open."

Meanwhile, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore and one of Bromby's rivals among the Etchells fleet, Les Crane, is predicting yet another week of competitive sailing.

"This is really fun sailing," he said. "People come down here to compete. But they also come down here for the friendship and just to enjoy Bermuda in the spring time."