Paul Fisher, who will be teaming up with Peter Bromby in a bid to win Olympic gold in the Star Class in Barcelona this summer, is one of a strong local contingent in the Etchells Class in this year's International Race Week.

Fisher, who heads for the European Championship in Cadiz, Spain, at the conclusion of Race Week, is co-skippering with another of Bermuda's top sailors Billy McNiven.

While his Star partner Bromby bids to retain his IOD title, Fisher will be aiming to challenge defending champion Henry Spingler of the US for the Etchells crown.

Fisher and McNiven are joined by Jeff Burgess in one of the four Bermuda boats that will do battle for the K.F.Trimingham Trophy throughout next week.

Last year's runner-up Tim Patton is joined by Clive Thatcher and Jamie Harvey as he bids to go one better this time.

The third of the local challengers is Jack Outerbridge, who has Tony Knap and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore John Thompson as crew.

And completing Bermuda's foursome is Bermuda's national sailing coach Chuck Millican, who won the J24 Class last year.

Millican will be joined by Dennis Correia and Michael Tatem in the boat that disappeared for three years after Hurricane Emily before being found at the bottom of the Great Sound. The boat has been completely restored and should provide a srong challenge.

Spingler, however, is by no means the only would-be winner among the overseas contingent although the addition of local crew in the shape of Alan Williams could make him hard to beat.

David Jones, the 1990 champion from the US, is definitely one to watch. A boat breakdown last year cost him dearly, but he still recovered to claim third spot behind his countryman.

Five other American entrants feature among the 14-strong fleet, with female skipper Nina Nielsen from Southern California making her Race Week debut.

Hugh McGugan is the lone Canadian hope, while Ted Fort and Andrew Walters are the two British representatives.

The Etchells race once daily from Sunday until Friday.

The pre-regatta favourite among the J24 fleet, which will race twice on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, is Geoff Moore of the US.

Moore is among the world's top 10 J24 sailors and looks odds-on to capture the title held by Millican.

Michael Emery, Trevor Boyce and Teresa Chatfield are the three local skippers who will be challenging for honours in the 12-strong fleet.

The remaining skippers all hail from the US.

The Royal Gazette 's final International Race Week preview, featuring the IOD and Luder Classes, will appear tomorrow.

A full list of Race Week entries can be found on today's Sport Scoreboard.

ETCHELLS HOPES -- Olympics Star sailor Paul Fisher prepares his boat for Race Week.