Bragging rights will be up for grabs when the inaugural Bermuda Team Racing National Championships takes centre stage in Hamilton Harbour today.

Three talented and experienced teams, comprised of two boats per team with a crew of three or four sailors, will compete for honours in the J80 class.

The two versus two team racing format will consist of one or more round robins, with the top two teams advancing to a first to three wins final.

The teams will be led by skippers Alan Frith, Joshua Greenslade, Benn Smith, Christian Ebbin, William Reid and Michael Wollman.

Newly crowned Edward Cross Long Distance Race winner Frith is optimistic about his chances for success but admits his task is not an easy one.

“It's going to be very tight as all six skippers are very fast and are experienced team racers. It wouldn't surprise me if any of the three teams came out on top,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“Joshua Greenslade [fellow team skipper] and I have been training together a lot in preparation for Worlds, so we feel good about our chances. But we know that both the other teams have a ton of talent and experience. It's going to be a challenge for sure.”

Smith is pumped up for the big occasion.

“I’m really excited to get team racing going in Bermuda,” he said.

“The conditions look like they’re going to be pretty windy, so we’ll see how it goes. Luckily, in team racing there’s no spinnakers because it’s such short course racing, so we should be in control pretty well.

“Team racing also lends itself well to spectators, so hopefully we get some people coming out and watching.”

The Bermuda Team Racing Association was formed last fall to help organise and drive the growth of team racing on the island.

The fledgeling association has teamed with regatta hosts Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to stage the first ever national team racing championships, which is geared towards preparing Bermuda’s two teams that will compete at this year’s Team Racing World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, also being contested in the J80 class.

Greenslade has been appointed as the skipper of Boat 1 whose crew also includes Amelia Lewis, Emily Davis and Aiden Young

Frith will be at the helm of Boat 2 competing alongside crew Cecilia Wollman, Samantha Dill and Sebastian Round.

The 2026 Team Racing World Championships will be held from August 12 to 16.