Luis Martins and Steven Bridges have become accustomed to competing against each other in 32ft twin-engined catamarans and exceeding 100mph on the offshore powerboat racing circuit in the United States.

However, the professional racers will go from one extreme to another when they compete at a much slower pace in Martins’ 16ft dinghy powered by a modified seagull engine in the Heineken Round the Island Seagull Race on Saturday.

“We’re going from 100-plus mph to 5mph, which hits different,” Team Bermuda boat owner and throttle man Bridges told The Royal Gazette.

“But even though you’re only doing 5mph with 60-year-old motors it’s still racing, there is strategy involved and you still want to win.

“It’s pretty cool not having to worry about the hustle and bustle of regular offshore racing and maybe we can win it together instead of winning in separate boats.

“There’s also records so it would be nice if we can get the record as well, but that all depends if everything holds together. It’s a long day but it should be fun.”

Bridges and Martins already have one win under their belts in this year’s IHRA Offshore Series Championship Super Stock class with their respective teams Nuff Said and Team Bermuda and are now hoping to achieve success together on the same team.

They also competed together in last year’s seagull race with their race ending earlier than planned after being forced to retire with mechanical problems.

“Last year we were doing okay until we snapped a shaft, which was something that normally doesn’t break,” Martins said.

“But if the engine can hold together I know the shaft won’t break this year. If we break down it won’t be from the shaft, I promise you that.”

The Nuff Said driver is again looking forward to the challenge of competing for bragging rights against his rivals.

“It’s a fun race but it’s also a very competitive racing circuit, especially my class because guys are modifying their boats to beat the next man. You’re modifying the boat and modifying the engine,” Martins said.

“Most of it is for fun but some guys are real serious.”

Bridges and Martins are not the only members of their families competing in the race.

“Steven’s brother and nephew and my daughters are also into it now, so I said if we have a spare engine we’ll do it, and we’ve got a spare engine” Martins said.

“I’m into it more for my daughters because they are doing it and I want to help them out, but obviously I might as well be in the mix and also have a little bit of fun.”

A total of 57 boats competing in various classes have entered the race which starts and ends in Mangrove Bay, Somerset. Racing begins at 7.45am.