every intention of holding onto both of his two titles -- first over the finish line and first in Class C.

But the man who made him sweat it out for victory last year in one of the closest and most thrilling finishes ever in the annual event, Michael Araujo, may have something to say about that.

Action is set for Sunday at Ferry Reach when the fastest boats in Bermuda will line up at 2.00 p.m. to tackle the often gruelling trek around the Island.

One featured addition to the day's activities will be the inaugural race for jet skiers, who will start at Ferry Reach at 12.15 and race to Five Star Island in the Great Sound and back to the starting point.

New Bermuda Powerboat Association commodore Craig Burt estimated yesterday that this year's fleet for the main event would number some 30 boats with eight jet skiers involved in the first race.

However, official numbers would be not determined until after last night's final meeting.

Martins and his co-pilot are looking forward to Sunday's challenge, well aware that they'll have to be at their best to retain the titles they won with a finishing time last year of 41 minutes and 56 seconds.

Then they nipped Araujo at the very end. And they will attempt to triumph again in their 21-foot Skater boat powered by two Mercury 265hp engines.

The champion has been racing this season but the inactivity of other faster boats makes it difficult for him to gauge what lies ahead.

"We haven't made any changes this year,'' said Martins. "We have the same boat and motor and will be counting on it once again.

"All season long we have been out there by ourselves and haven't had a race against anybody really. But the important thing is that we know what we are running like, we are running pretty much up to par and we are satisfied.

"The weather could be the deciding factor this year. Looking at the way it is shaping up right now it probably will be pretty choppy, so I expect most of the boats to be pretty close together for much of the race.''