Six of the eight seeded skippers who will compete for this year's King Edward VII Gold Cup were announced yesterday.

The regatta, sponsored by Investors Guaranty and the second event on the Swedish Match Tour 2003-4, will be held between October 18 and 26.

Topping the list of skippers announced by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is America's Cup winning helmsman Russell Coutts of the Alinghi Team, who has won the King Edward VII Cup a record six times - 2000, 1998, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1990. Two-time champions Peter Gilmour of Australia (1997, '95) and New Zealand's Chris Dickson (1989, '87), 2001 champion Peter Holmberg of the US Virgin Islands) and Dennis Conner of the USA will join Dane Jesper Radich of TeamRadich, the reigning champion who is currently second on the Swedish Match Tour 2002-3 rankings, to challenge for one of match racing's largest prize purses.

"The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is thrilled to have all of these skippers return to Bermuda after their hiatus for the America's Cup," said RBYC Commodore Les Crane. "With the assistance of Investors Guaranty and the best skippers in the world, this year's event will be a blockbuster."

Celebrating its 55th year of drawing the world's top sailing talent and giving up-and-comers a shot at racing against the world's best, the event will offer a record $100,000 prize purse on behalf of its title sponsor Investors Guaranty.

Competition for the coveted King Edward VII Gold Cup will take place on Hamilton Harbour in identically matched and supplied International One Design yachts.

The remaining two seeded skippers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Amateur and professional skippers are invited to apply for one of the 16 unseeded skippers' berths in the Gold Cup. The winner and runner-up of the Bacardi Cup - Bermuda's national match racing championship - will be awarded two of the berths.

A three-day, round robin qualifier round is planned for October 18-20 aboard International One Design class sloops, with the top six skippers advancing to Round One. The deadline for applying for an invitation is June 1.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda International Women's Match Racing Championship will serve as a unique lead-up to the Gold Cup, with the winner and runner-up receiving an invitation to compete in Round One.

The winner of the Bermuda International Women's Match Racing Championship will be presented with the 4th Squadron Cruiser Bowl and a share of $15,000 in prize money. Paula Lewin, the winner of the inaugural event in 2001, who is currently training for the 2004 Olympic Games, will return to home waters between October 18 and 21 for the event.

The deadline for applying for invitations is June 1 and the Notice of Race and further information is available at www.KingEdwardVIIGoldCup.com.