Sunday?s annual Round the Island Powerboat Race has attracted less than half the number of entries than last year ? though race organisers are still promising plenty of excitement when the boats roar away from Ferry Reach.

As of last night, only 11 boats and seven jet skis had been entered on the official race list, with the defending champion in the FB Class, John Carreiro jr, not returning for a further crack at the title having decided to sell his boat.

Compared to 20 years ago, when the race was one of the crown jewels on the Island?s sporting calendar and even attracted entries from overseas competitors, in recent years the event ? as well as the sport in general ? has lost much of its lustre.

Bermuda Powerboat Association president Chris Roque was prepared to admit as much yesterday, though he rejected the suggestion that the sport was in terminal decline.

?We?re a little light on numbers this year which is not ideal, but we?ve got quite a few entries in the D-class and I think the race will be very close and exciting,? he said.

?It?s pretty obvious that the race is not as popular as it used to be and understandably we do not get as much coverage in the media either.

?Powerboating is an extremely expensive sport to be involved in and I think in this day and age because of the cost of living is so much higher than it ever used to be, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay in the sport, and the numbers have been affected by people with different priorities like supporting a family and buying a house.

?But I wouldn?t say the sport is dying or anything like that.

?We?re in a bit of a transition phase at the moment where the older generation of powerboat racers are on the way out and a younger generation is moving in. It will take a few years to pick up again, that?s for sure.?

Meanwhile, in the two-boat S-class ? the fastest boats on the water which reach speeds of up to 110 miles an hour - defending champion Ricky Sousa will return along with co-driver Dennis Berry.

Former champion Bobby DeCosta is set to race in the D-Division along with five other boats. In the FB division only two boats are entered, while in the usually popular C-class only one boat is competing.

And on the jet skis, veteran Chris Smith returns and will be looking for his third victory in the last six years.

The behaviour of the ocean is always a major talking point at the race, though with only one to three feet seas expected to confront the racers, and with winds forecast to be between 10 and 15 knots, Roque said he was looking forward to a ?perfect day for racing.?

?The weather forecast is pretty favourable so we hope to have a very good day and also that as many people as possible will come out to support,? he said.