The 2026 Rubis Round the Island Race promises to be one of the fastest in recent memory with bright sunshine and light north-northeasterly winds in the forecast for tomorrow’s prestigious event.

“With the calm conditions it’s looking to be an all-out drag race from start to finish, and everybody is looking for that number one overall spot because conditions are favourable for everybody,” said pilot Brandon DeSilva, who is competing again along with co-pilot Blake Burgess.

The duo led the A Class across the line and were third overall last year competing for the first time in their new 19ft Ocke Mannerfelt boat and are back to defend their title.

DeSilva and Burgess’ team-mates pilot Ricky Souza and co-pilot Nick Cabral are a new entry in the race this year and will be competing in a 23ft Ocke Mannerfelt boat in the 53-nautical mile circumnavigation of the island.

A new D class champion will be crowned as last year’s winners Andrew Cottingham and Henry Talbot are not back to defend their title. The pair led all boats across the finish in their new 24-foot Twister catamaran.

DeSilva and Burgess led the entire fleet before being passed by pilot Talbot and co-pilot Cottingham off John Smith’s Bay.

Talbot and Cottingham have not competed in their catamaran this year since flipping it in St George’s Harbour just two weeks after their success in the Rubis Round the Island Race last September.

Also back to defend their titles are pilot Steven Meireles with new co-pilot Tyler Smith and pilot Chad Sutherland and co-pilot Lee Wilson who claimed B and C class honours last year.

Last year’s race was incident-filled with pilot Damon Morris and co-pilot Anthany Steede being plucked to safety after their boat sank, while B Class rival Makinday Johansen suffered a suspected broken rib.

Morris and Steede’s afternoon took a dramatic turn when their boat sank after taking on water on the South Shore. They were quickly rescued by course marshals and were unharmed in the mishap.

In a separate incident, co-pilot Johansen suffered a suspected broken rib while racing with pilot Ryan Resendes and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Johansen sustained the injury before he and Resendes intentionally ran their boat aground to avoid sinking after it was damaged and began taking on water on the South Shore.

Six other teams also saw their title hopes go up in smoke after being forced to retire from the race through mechanical breakdowns.

Tomorrow’s race will be the second since pilot Rickai “Pugi” Raynor tragically lost his life in a fatal crash during Bermuda Power Boat Association’s Hamilton Harbour Race series on June 28.

The association is now planning to stage a memorial race later this year to honour the legacy of the 28-year-old father of two and brother of Minister of Public Works and Environment Jaché Adams.

The 2026 Rubis Round the Island Race gets under way tomorrow at Ferry Reach at 2pm.