A world-class sailing fleet will descend on Bermuda from next week as the battle begins for the annual King Edward VII Gold Cup.

Some of match-racing?s top names ? Russell Coutts, Ed Baird, Mathieu Richard, 2003 champion Peter Gilmour, the legendary Dennis Conner and Staffan Lindberg ? are among the seeded skippers while their unseeded peers are almost equally impressive.

The likes of Cameron Appleton, Bill Hardesty, Scott Dickson, Yasutaka Funasawa, Brian Angel, Elizabeth Kratzig and Chris Larson will be seeking to be among the six who advance from qualifying action to the Gold Cup proper. Bermuda?s Adam Barboza and Blythe Walker are also in the qualifier having claimed the top spots in the recent Bacardi Cup here.

The winner and runner-up from the Cicada Women?s International Match Race Championship will also be thrown into the Gold Cup mix where competitors stand to win ? not only the prestigious cup ? but quite importantly a share of the $100,000 purse. The winner pockets $30,000 while second through eight place receive $18,000, $11,500, $9,000, $7,500, $6,500, $6,000 and $5,500 respectively. Ninth through 16th place each get $750.

Racing is scheduled for October 16-24 in Hamilton Harbour where the event is hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) who provide a perfect venue for shore-side spectating.

The Cicada Women?s International Match Race Championship takes place first from October 16-19 ahead of competition in the Gold Cup itself, starting October 20.

The event is the third stop on the Swedish Match Tour on which Baird currently holds the top ranking. Coutts and Gilmour are tied for third, Lindberg is sixth and Richard, seventh. The latest ISAF World Match Racing rankings place Baird first; Richard, third and Gilmour, fourth.

Anticipation of another year of riveting sailing in Bermuda is already building and racing enthusiasts can hardly wait to see the famous Bermuda IOD (International One Design) sloops creating an awesome picture across the scenic city harbour.

?It?s the classic IOD boats, the spectacular venue and the tough competition that attract the best match-race sailors to the Gold Cup every year,? noted RBYC commodore Jane Correia.

?Sailors like six-time Gold Cup winner Russell Coutts come back to race against sailors like 2003 winner Peter Gilmour and today?s hot sailors Ed Baird and James Spithill.?

Looking forward to defending his title, Australian Gilmour certainly seconded that view.

?The Gold Cup is a fabulous benchmark for sailors. For the young guys, they can see where they stand. There are 16 unseeds who go up against eight seeded skippers. It is very unsettling for unseeds and for the seeds.

?We all face pressure, but that is what makes the Gold Cup great.?