The burgeoning cost of living in Bermuda may have put paid to the Round the Island Powerboat race's glory days, but organisers are still hoping for plenty of loud and thrilling action on Sunday when a minumum of 13 boats spread across six different classes take to the water for the annual thrash.

None of the entries have yet been finalised, but defending D-class champion Phil Correia is a certain starter in his D-15 and his looking forward to locking horns with his main rival Joey De Silva, who looked to have the race sewn up last year until hitting a reef near Tucker's Point.

"We've got about the same number of entries as last year and it should be a really fun day," said Correia.

"We're having a final meeting tomorrow night where all the entries will be confirmed.

"It's true that the race is not as popular as it was before, and the main reason for that is the costs of not just running a boat, but living in Bermuda generally, is a are just so much higher than they used to be.

"There was a time when it cost just a few bucks to be a member of the Bermuda Powerboat Association, but now our annual membership fee is $550. It costs me $12,000 just to keep my boat going, which doesn't really include the costs if something goes seriously wrong with it.

"It's a real shame in my opinion though because while there is obviously an element of danger in it, at the end of the day it is an unbelievably fun experience and everybody who does it gets a big kick out of it."