Foreign participants for the International One Design World Championship have been confirmed with many of them expected to arrive in Bermuda by tomorrow night.

The championship, which begin with the first official race on Sunday afternoon and will run until October 8, will feature a clutch of sailors who are familiar with the competitive waters of the Great Sound.

But they will have to contend with a strong Bermuda contingent, led by two-time defending champion Peter Bromby, who repeated his title-winning performance at Marblehead, Massachusetts, last year and will be looking for a `three-peat' next week. Bromby also won the 1991 crown at San Francisco.

Bermuda's other representatives will include Eugene (Penny) Simmons and Martin Siese.

Confirmed for the championship are competitors from Scotland, Norway and the United States.

Representing Scotland will be Gil Manuel, a relatively unknown quantity in Bermuda yachting circles.

Also unfamiliar to Bermuda is Ulf Ulrikson of Norway, who will be participating in his first-ever world championship.

Better known, of course, is another Norwegian participant, Jan Petter Roed who was here last May for International Race Week. Roed is described as a skillful sailor, especially in heavy weather and is a definite contender for the crown.

Massachusetts native Bill Widnall will likely provide the stiffest competition for Bromby and Simmons with the trio considered early favourites to win the championship.

"Penny, Peter and Bill will certainly be the major players,'' said tournament spokesperson Richard Thompson yesterday. "Consistency is the key for these racers and they'll need high-place finishes throughout the week.'' From Northeast Harbour, Maine, will be a pair of sailors -- Jock Kohlas and David Rockefeller, Jr. Kohlas has been in Bermuda several times and excels in light-weather conditions. Rockefeller, whose father David is the former chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, participated in International Race Week several years ago and "could be a factor,'' said Thompson.

Jim Bishop, Jr. and Jim McNamara are representatives from Long Island Sound, New York, with Bishop following in the illustrious footsteps of his father, Jim. Bishop boasts a strong crewman in Steve Madeira who finished second at the world championships in 1985.

McNamara, primarily a big boat sailor, brings a wealth of experience from his well-known yacht Golddigger , but this is his maiden trip to the world championship.

John Burnham, from Fishers Island, Rhode Island, finished third at the worlds in Scotland in 1991 and is editor of Sailing World magazine.

From San Francisco will be Henry Mettier, who has been a frequent competitor at the IOD World Championships. While he is less familiar with the waters of the Great Sound, he could be a serious threat to take the title if the winds are blowing strong.

Thompson, however, gives the edge to Simmons, who won the world championship in 1984 at San Francisco. He was runner-up to Bromby in San Francisco in 1991 and third in 1992 at Marblehead. Simmons has also represented Bermuda in four Olympic Games.

Siese, is the local fleet's high-point winner for 1992. He has represented Bermuda in the Omega Gold Cup and the Bank of Bermuda Cup. He was also at the helm of the fitted dinghy Echo , which finished second in the Coronation Cup last year.

Bromby, meanwhile, is coming off a victory in the Bank of Bermuda Cup finals last Sunday. Bromby and Blythe Walker will represent Bermuda in next month's Omega Gold Cup.