Island plays host to the Sunfish World Championships.

Smith enters the event as one of the leading contenders to lift the title and home water advantage could go some way towards ensuring that the small craft specialist is successful.

A solid second place finish was his reward last year when Tortola, British Virgin Islands was the venue for the competition.

However, the high placing was bitter-sweet as Smith led going into the final race only to be overhauled by eventual winner Eduardo Cordova of Venezuela during the final leg in a classic showdown.

For Cordova, who had brought his own personal coach, the victory marked an amazing comeback. For Smith, it was a bitter disappointment.

"I was a little depressed at the end of the day,'' said Smith at the time.

"But you get over it.'' Now the Bermudian gets an opportunity to make amends and again he will have to deal with the likes of Cordova, who is set to open his defence of the title on November 13.

Some 80 sailors from nine countries, including 16 Bermudians, are expected to take part.

Other leading contenders include Donny Martinborough, the Bahamian master and a multiple winner of Bermuda's International Race Week, Americans Allan Scharfe and Bruce Stephen, as well as locals Stevie Dickinson and Paula Lewin.

National sailing coach Chuck Milligan admitted that Smith was a favourite, but was more concerned about the weather being conducive to good racing.

"We have to get in 20 races and are hoping the weather will cooperate,'' said Milligan. "We're hoping for 15 to 20 knot breezes, because if it's too light or too heavy there could be some problems.'' MALCOLM SMITH -- pipped in the final race a year ago.