Now having successfully defended his Edward Cross Long Distance Comet Race title, Rudy Bailey has even bigger and better plans in store.

The veteran West Sail Boat Club skipper heads off to Maryland next month where he will defend his North American Comet Championship crown.

Bailey, along with American crew Emily Rogers, will be gunning for a second successive North American Comet Championship and third overall sailing onboard ? the Bermudian?s overseas-based boat.

The self-proclaimed light air specialist is a nine-time Long Distance champion and remains to this present day only one of two skippers ever to win three successive Edward Cross titles on the trot.

Legendary East End Comet skipper, the late Alton Millett, is the only other skipper to win three titles in succession; only skipper to achieve the feat twice and first and only ever to win four times in a row.

Millett was also the mentor of Bailey?s long-time rival Stevie Dickinson.

Bailey achieved the hat-trick of Long Distance titles between 1986 to 1988 and is now poised to repeat the feat next year when the racing fleet heads West.

But first the Bermudian skipper will focus on winning a third North American crown in his fourth appearance at the international regatta.

?I am just as confident now as I was heading into the Long Distance Race,? stated Bailey, never one short for words. ?I will be returning to Maryland to defend my title. The boat is ready and all I have to do is show up. We are ready to rock and roll.?

Bailey plans to warm up for next month?s assignment by taking part in a series of inter-club regattas.

The North American Comet Championships consist of a six race series with each skipper permitted one drop. The championship is contested for annually on a triangular race course.

?It?s a normal triangular course which is generally between five-and-a-half and seven miles long depending on the strength of the wind,? Bailey explained.

Only last week Bailey demonstrated his light air prowess, reeling in race leader Scott Fox in St.George?s deep into the race to clinch back-to-back Long Distance titles with daughter Danielle onboard .

?Those guys overseas want a piece of my flesh,? the defending champion added. ?So I intend to be a sharp as a tack when I arrive out there (in Maryland). Therefore, I?ll be racing in the Great Sound over the next two weeks to prepare myself.?