Bill Hanckel will lay his Charleston to Bermuda Race (C2B) crown on the line when the seventh edition of the biennial event begins May 29.

Sailing aboard his father's J/120, EmOcean, Hanckel and his crew completed the 777-nautical mile cross on a corrected time of four days, nine hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds to claim overall honours during the previous race.

Runner's up accolades went to Scott Jones' Peterson 44, Lung Ta, while rounding out the top three was Kevin Hogan's C&C 44 Kintaro.

First boat across the line was Joe Harris' Open 50 Gryphon Solo with skipper Hugh Piggin at the helm. Jones, who captured Class B honours in the previous race, is also back to defend his crown this year while Hogan and Piggin's names were not listed among the pre-race entries.

Founded in 1997, the event challenges sailors to navigate the race course at a time of the year when conditions are most unpredictable and over the years has built a reputation as a fun sailing spectacle.

Next month will see the start to the biennial Marion to Bermuda Race.

Meanwhile, Regional Comet Class Yacht Racing Association president, Gladwin Lambert, has confirmed the 65th Long Distance Comet Race will start an hour earlier this year.

To avoid clashing with the departure of the Tall Ships during the National Heroes' Day Holiday, race organisers have scheduled a 10 a.m. start for next month's Long Distance Race which will see the fleet start in the Great Sound off the shores of the West End Sail Boat Club and finish in St.George's Harbour.

"The race will begin at 10 a.m. at the West End Sail Boat Club and will finish in St.George's Harbour," Lambert confirmed.

The Long Distance Race was inaugurated in 1945 and since then has steadily grown in stature. Two-time All American sailor, Jessie Kirkland, is the current Edward Cross Cup holder.

Earlier this month Government announced its intentions to observe National Heroes' Day on June 15 rather than in October, allowing the Long Distance Race to return to its original date.

Race organisors had originally planned to stage this year's race June 28.