The cream of Bermuda's sailors will defend the Island's honour in International Race Week starting on Sunday.

Among those competing are Olympian Peter Bromby, Pan Am gold medallist Malcolm Smith, wily veteran Jordy Walker and the experienced Adam Barboza, Brett Wright, Mike Lewis and Allan Powell.

Though neither could be reached for comment, regatta officials confirmed that Bromby will participate in the Etchells while the versatile Smith is slated to tackle the Lasers.

Top female skipper Paula Lewin will also be out on the water but as crew for Michael Oatley who sails in the Etchells. Sara Lane Adderley will be among those vying for Laser honours in the nine-race series (two discards) which sees keel boats racing in Hamilton Harbour (Royal Bermuda Yacht Club) and dinghies in the Great Sound (Spanish Point Boat Club).

Walker will once again try his luck in the International One Design (IOD) Class where the 65-year-old should be one of the leading contenders.

"We're confident we will place well but how well is left to be seen," said the sailing-savvy skipper.

"Last year we tied for second place and on aggregate were third and we were only one point out of first place.

"We improved towards the end of the regatta by winning three of the final four races. The crew had never sailed before together but as we went along we smoothed out the bumps and became quite proficient."

Having maintained the exact same crew this year, Walker is optimistic they can pick up where they left off. He will be partnered by his sister and brother-in-law Sasha (cockpit, jib) and Penny Simmons (mainsail, tactician), Irene Conlon (cockpit, jib) and Lisa Spurling (foredeck).

"Having had that experience behind us last year, we're looking to do even better. Getting a fast start and good places at the beginning of the regatta is the answer," he noted.

Walker expects his toughest competition to come from 2003 IOD world champion and pre-race favourite Charles Van Voorhuis who has triumphed at Race Week in the past. Van Voorhuis' fellow American Kevin Farrar ? who was second to Bill Widnall here last year ? is not entered this year. Other rivals are expected from England, Canada, Norway.

Another local in the IODs is Allan Powell who "has been sailing for close to 40 years" though he will be breaking new ground in this class.

"I'm very excited. This is my first Race Week in IODs and it's just my second year competing full-time in the IOD Class," revealed the skipper who previously spent several years at the helm in Tornados and Fitted Dinghies.

"I'm confident in my ability but I don't like to give predictions. Some of these people have competed at Worlds but we can match them on boat speed," declared a self-assured Powell.

Meanwhile, Adam Barboza acknowledges he will be hard pressed to defend his J-105 crown though he will be skippering the same vessel in which he won last year.

"I think we have a good chance but one of the overseas boats that's coming has won the two major regattas this year so far ? in Key West and in Miami. They were pretty well unbeatable on those two occasions," he said referring to San Francisco native and perennial rival Tom Coates who had to settle for the runner-up spot last year.

"I think everybody is pretty competitive but right now he (Coates) has the top boat in the world."

Barboza, who finished in mid-fleet in Key West and eighth in Miami, is not disheartened by these results but rather relishing the chance to turn the tables on Coates.

"We know where we could have done better in those regattas, especially in Key West," he said. "We have sailed the boat consistently for 18 months now so we are very familiar with it but we know we are facing the best in the world and, if we can beat him, then it would be great."

Mike Lewis also has high hopes in the J-24 Class.

"I'm hoping to be in the top three. We were third last year just one point off the lead. This year it's going to be very tight. We've got some good people coming from overseas and a couple of good local sailors.

"I think it will be quite tough to be in the top four or five," said Lewis who has represented Bermuda internationally.

His crew is comprised of his wife Lorrie Lewis (foredeck), Guy Kelly (trimming), Janette Fieldman and George Chipparro.

In her Etchells team, Paula Lewin will be responsible for the jib and tactics while the Oatley outfit will have American Tim Lynch ? who placed second in 2004 ? as skipper. Lewin anticipates a good battle with Bromby.

"I know Peter (Bromby) will be a challenge," she declared.

President of the Bermuda Sailing Association Tim Patton, who was third last year, is again entered in Etchells.

Sixteen skippers have entered the popular Laser Class with nine coming from Canada, USA and the UK.

Among the sport's familiar faces who will be spectating rather than participating this year are Blythe Walker and Carola Cooper; the latter sidelined by recent back surgery.