Marion-Bermuda race on June 18.

Interest is up on two years ago, based on the total of completed entries to date for the 12th classic cruising race.

For the first time there will be two navigational choices -- Celestial or Electronic -- and race organisers have reported that the choice between the two is going to be close as neither navigational choice has taken a big lead.

Most of the repeat participants are staying with Celestial while many of the newcomers are opting for Electronic.

Another first for the race is the post-race "Winning Tactics'' forum which will be hosted in Bermuda at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club and moderated by Ocean Navigator magazine. This session is for skippers and navigators and will occur on Thursday morning, June 24.

Interest in the new Ocean Spray Marion-Bermuda team trophy is mounting, also.

As of this week, Beverly Yacht Club (one of the three sponsors of the Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race) will have three teams and possibly four competing for this new award.

That prize goes to the yacht club or sailing organisation whose three yacht team has the lowest combined corrected elapsed time. A yacht can only be in one team.

Ocean Spray has a significant new trophy designed and crafted which will reside at the winning club until it must be returned to Bermuda two years later to be competed for again. `Keeper' trophies for the winning team yachts and the sponsoring club will also be awarded.