this year's Onion Patch Series, designed to attract greater interest to the event.

Royal Bermuda yacht Club commodore, Brian Billings, during an early morning press conference outlined various changes to the series, raced on a biennial basis.

For the first time two races have been scheduled for local waters in addition to two in Newport, as well as the headliner, the Newport to Bermuda Race.

The first two will take place June 11 and 12 in Newport, the third on June 17 from Newport to Bermuda and the remaining two on June 24 in local waters, with more than 45 boats -- divided into teams -- expected to take part.

Races in Bermuda will be sailed under IMS handicap ratings having both Non-spinnaker and Spinnaker divisions while competing for the Royal Mail and St. David's Lighthouse Trophies respectively.

Two new classes have been added to the Newport to Bermuda Race, for Mega Yachts (grand Voile) and Double Handed yachts.

"Obviously this is a very auspicious year for us -- our 150th -- and we're looking forward to having a tremendous year, not only in sports, but all other events going on,'' said Billings, who recently succeeded John Thompson as commodore.

"We feel that the whole event will be spectacular, not only for the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, but the whole of Bermuda.'' Billings also noted how this year's event had attracted a record number of enquiries, but that they would likely set the limit at 150 to coincide with the anniversary year.