Round the world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur could be just one of sailing's star names taking part in a prestigious new race between England and Bermuda.

It is hoped the current ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year will be among 50 competitors who will take part in the 2003 two-handed race which will run from Plymouth on the south-west coast of England to Bermuda in June.

The race used to be run between Plymouth and Newport, Rhode Island, but organisers are hoping the new destination will inject fresh enthusiasm for the event.

It has already been accepted as part of the FICO (Forum International de la Course Oceanique) World Championship and will be run on a four yearly basis.

Race director John Lewis, of the Royal Western Yacht Club of England, said there were good reasons for coming to Bermuda.

"(Newport) became stale as a destination. The single-handed race used to go into Newport every four years. We have now split that race because of its popularity so therefore we have got two races going into Newport in successive years," he said.

"For a third race to go into there it really kind of lost its appeal so we wanted a new, attractive location across the Atlantic. We looked at Halifax, Nova Scotia but I can assure you this is a better option."

Lewis said the aim was to "internationalise" some of the bigger ocean races.

"This race will be part of the FICO World Championship and other races under that umbrella are the Vendee Globe, the Volvo Round the World Race, the Route de Rum and other oceanic races of which our single-handed transatlantic race is part," he said.

"We hope that by introducing a new destination it will be exciting, not only to the yachting fraternity, but to Bermuda as well.

"We are very much aware that a closer association between England and the colonies would be mutually beneficial. But also the challenge of two men in a boat crossing the Atlantic has always been the blue riband of these oceanic races."

Lewis said the 2,800 mile trip involving boats between 35 and 60 feet, would, in his estimation, be as arduous as the single-handed race. As a result he expected the cream of the crop to take part.

"We expect to attract the professional element of the Open 60s, certainly some of those people who competed in the Vendee Globe and other such races," he said.

"Certainly, we would hope that Ellen MacArthur might be around. She is pretty high profile at the moment, depending on her future plans of course.

"There will be a large French contingent and there will be a few Americans in there who are building new Open 60 craft."

Lewis, however, said no one had committed to the race as yet.

"At this moment in time it is so early that we are only just at the discussion stage. But there has been a lot of interest already shown," he said. "The new programme was promoted at the London Boat Show for the early oceanic cycle and we have had a good response so far. We expect between 30 and 50 entrants for this race."

A race of this magnitude costs money and Lewis said he and representatives of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club would be paying a visit to Government.

"We are actively looking for sponsors and this is one of the reasons why I am here (in Bermuda)," he said. "The race would be viable without a sponsor but of course to raise the profile and market it, a sponsor is essential. This is a major international race on the oceanic circuit which gets international press coverage and it is an opportunity not be missed.

"I am not aware of the local financial situation and the politics so I will leave that in the capable hands of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to advise on where we should go from there, but, certainly, I think Bermuda Tourism would be interested in a major international sporting event coming from England."

Les Crane, vice commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, said it was an exciting development for sailing in Bermuda.

"I think it is good for Bermuda and will be good fun not only for those who live here but for the skippers as well," he said. "It will be exciting and I can't wait to see these boats sail."