prestigious International Championship Regatta gets underway in the Great Sound.

The event, which is taking place outside of the United States for the first time in 60 years, is regarded as a dream come true for Bermuda officials who have been working feverishly over the past two years to have it staged in the island.

The Bermuda public is invited to visit the best vantage point on land -- the grounds of the West End Sailboat Club -- to see the battle between the top US comet sailors and the home-grown talent during the three-day classic.

The 27-boat fleet includes many previous winners -- including reigning champion Jamie Hilton, who is also the secretary-treasurer of the Comet Yacht Racing Association.

Two-time winner Mark Beaton will also be one to watch as will Bermuda's own Stevie Dickinson, who won the regatta in 1989.

Many other sailors are also expected to make a spirited challenge for the title, including Bermuda's Rudy Bailey who finished fourth a year ago in New Jersey.

Bailey, who was seventh behind winner Dickinson in the Long Distance Race from St. George's to Somerset this year, is looking forward to the regatta with enthusiasm.

"It's a good, exciting event with a lot of the top sailors involved. It should be a great race,'' said Bailey who will be competing for the 12th time.

This time he will have Cal Lynch as crew after competing in the Long Distance race with Sinclair Simons.

"With it being held here this year for the first time things could be different. Usually when we compete in United States we have to borrow unfamiliar boats, but this time we have our own and the odds should be in our favour,'' he added.

Bailey insisted that there wasn't anything such as "ideal'' weather conditions but he thought winds blowing 10-14 knots from the south or south-west would be suitable.

Bailey will sail his own boat Temptation while Dickinson will be in Alton Millett's Kitty Hawk . The other top local sailor Malcolm Smith will be sailing his own boat which so far doesn't have an official name.

The boats will be sailing a triangular course between Dockyard and the US Base, close enough to shore for spectators to get a clear view from the West End Sailboat Club.

The local fleet will see boats competing from the three comet sailing clubs, West End Sailboat Club, Mid Atlantic Club and East End Mini Yacht Club.

There will be two races a day with the first starting at 12 noon. The Bermuda sailors participated in a qualifying four-race territorial sail-off on July 12 in St.George's Harbour for the 15 spots.

Local officials were thrilled to have the use of the new National Sailing Centre in Dockyard -- an area which they hope will be preserved only for the housing of the boats and for the use of the sailors.

"At last the building is now being used for a good purpose and the money spent on it can be considered to be well spent,'' said one official. "The availability of the building has helped to make the regatta possible.' STRONG CHALLENGER -- Rudy Bailey, in his boat Temptation, is expected to offer a strong challenge when the Comet International Championships get under way in the Great Sound this afternoon.