Veteran sailor Glenn Astwood is gearing up for what will be his ninth Newport-to-Bermuda crossing.

The 54-year-old sailor, who has competed in various classes throughout his career, has teamed up with skipper Preston Hutchings onboard Morgan's Ghost which will set sail from Castle Hill, Rhode Island on June 20 in what will be the second largest Newport-to-Bermuda Race fleet - an entry of 214 has been confirmed.

And having sailed from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and more recently from the Caribbean to Bermuda already this year, Astwood says he's again keen to put his skills to the test in open seas on Hutchings' 42 foot German Frers design.

"Sailing the Newport-to-Bermuda Race is actually fun, it's just nice to be at sea without any hassles in the elements with people you enjoy being with," the ex-Tornado skipper said. "But it can also push you to the limit sometimes because you encounter sleep deprivation. Things can be trying at times, but I think it's good for the human soul."

Bermuda will be represented in this year's race by a record seven boats that will navigate the 635 nautical mile course that concludes off St. David's Lighthouse - a welcoming sight for weatherbeaten sailors through several decades.

The race provides one of the most interesting and challenging ocean courses which, depending on weather conditions, can be won by boats in any of the five divisions.

En route to Bermuda sailors will have to navigate the notorious Gulf Stream where navigators must select an optimal position on the northern edge to avoid the adverse side of warm eddies to the north of the stream. Due to extreme temperatures, it is not unusual for skippers to encounter thunder and squall activity.

The stream itself is often lumpy as wind and water currents interact. And there are many theories about how to cross the stream although many would agree the best strategy is simply to cross it as quickly as possible to avoid its vagaries.

"That's probably the biggest challenge of the trip," Aswtood was quick to point out. "It's always tough and I've been in there when it's very windy and also when there's no wind at all and you don't make any headway. It's one of the most trying parts of the race course."

Founded in 1906 by Thomas Fleming Day, the Newport-to-Bermuda Race is the oldest ocean race for amateur sailors in normal boats and first ocean race sailed on time allowances.

Belle Mente was the first boat to finish the 2006 race while Pywacket currently holds the record for the fastest crossing (53 hours, 39 minutes and 22 seconds) that was set in 2002.