Last weekend?s bad weather means there will be two different groups trying to journey around the Island on Sunday ? and they?ve promised to do their utmost to stay out of each other?s way.

While the powerboaters will be having a second go after their event had to be cancelled because of rain, wind and rough seas, a total of 50 swimmers will be engaged in a commemorative repeat of former Bermuda College lecturer Sean O?Connell?s 45-mile swim to raise money for the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association.

O?Connell started his Herculean ocean odyssey on August 19, 1976 and completed it ? to national acclaim ? in a shade over 43 hours.

Asked whether there would be any major safety concerns with so many swimmers and boats in the water, powerboat race organiser Chris Roque said that all necessary steps had been taken to ensure there would be no accidents.

?We?re aware that the swim is going on and I have had a chat with the organisers so we?re all on the same page,? he said.

?The swimmers should have at least two support boats with them at all times and I?ve been told that they will position themselves either side of the swimmers so the boats know about them. There won?t be any problems.?

Organised by Nick Strong at the Bermuda Masters Swimming Association, the relay starts from 9 Beaches in Somerset at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, with swimmers taking it in turns to complete the 20 eastward-heading legs which range from almost two kilometres to over eight.

Trunk Island Swim champion John Legge, as well as Mike Cash ? who represented Bermuda at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 ? are the two strongest swimmers involved, while O?Connell himself is set to complete the final leg between Wreck Bay and Nine Beaches on Sunday evening.

?We?re all really looking forward to the weekend,? said Strong last night.

?Our biggest problem will be time because the schedule is such that we have a lot of swimming to get through on the first day, which is 39 kilometres as opposed to the 28 kilometres on day two.

?The goal is to reach Tucker?s Town by the end of day one, but if we have not reached that point by the time the light fades then we will have to start a little earlier on Sunday morning.

?As far as the powerboats are concerned, I don?t think there will be too much of a problem. We?ll have support boats around at all times and I?ll be in contact with Chris by phone throughout to day so that we know where the boats are and when they are expected to reach us. And we?ll have one of the support boats positioned in between the powerboats and the swimmers to shield them.

?But I?ve been really pleased so far with the response we?ve had. Every leg of the swim will have a minimum of two and as many of eight swimmers taking part. It should be an excellent couple of days and hopefully Sean will finish the final leg at around four of five on Sunday evening.?

Anybody wishing to contribute to this event can do so either at International Imports on Par-la-Ville Road or the Sportseller in the Washington Mall.

Cheques should be made payable to the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association.