ambition of returning laden with precious booty from their quest at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

The group is made up of five distinct crews due to compete in various classes of boats, including Laser, Snipe, Hobie 16 and J24.

Piloting the ship will be coach Chuck Millican, who rated highly the team's chances of achieving success down south.

"They're all very positive heading into it,'' said Millican. "Certainly Peter Bromby, having won the IOD World Championship and being in the Nations Cup is feeling good right now.

"Also (Stevie) Dickinson is going well in the Snipes and along with the Lasers, who have been working very hard, will certainly be a factor there.'' Both Bromby -- who will have Lee White, Dennis Correia, Buddy Rego and Steven King as his crew -- and Laser ace Malcolm Smith are former bronze medal winners, having performed the feat in 1990 when Mexico was the venue.

They will undoubtedly lead the charge, but will face stiff tests from their Caribbean counterparts, Bromby most likely from opposition hailing from the host nation and Smith, with Brett Wright as crew, should find the Cuban contingent a handful.

Known locally for their exploits among the Tornado fleet, Glenn Astwood and Jay Kempe are the skippers in the Hobie 16 catamarans and are to be assisted by Damian Payne and Jackie Stevenson respectively.

However, a swift and smooth adjustment must occur with the odds stacked against them in the form of the current world champion Puerto Ricans.

Finally, there is Dickinson whose exploits in the Comets and Snipes are stuff of legend on local shores.

As well as carrying a lifelong accumulation of sailing knowledge he is hoping that the luxury of having his own boat -- the others will charter craft for racing -- will bear fruit in the form of gold.

Millican, meanwhile, said that the key will be how fast an adjustment the locals make to foreign waters.

"The most difficult aspect will probably be adapting to the water, waves and wind,'' he said.