Brothers Jesse and Zander Kirkland have teamed up for next week's Long Distance Comet Race and could pose a serious threat to Rudy Bailey's defence of the coveted Edward Cross Cup.

With perennial rival Stevie Dickinson gunning for an unprecedented 15th win, Bailey already has a fight on his hands.

And the Kirklands' presence in the fleet will make his task all the more challenging as both young sailors bring a wealth of sailing experience to the table acquired from competing abroad in recent years.

Earlier this month, former Optimist star Jesse was named as an All-American sailor for the second year running after helping the St. Mary's Seahawks to the National Championships where they finished third in fleet racing series and fifth in team racing.

The 20 -year-old Bermudian raised eye brows last year when he had All-American honour bestowed upon him during his junior year of college and since then has continued to develop into a well-rounded sailor under the supervision of coaches Bill Ward and Adam Werelow.

"My coaches have been very influential and have shown me new light on various apsects of sailing," Jesse said. "So far it has been a very positive experience (at St. Mary's) and very helpful."

Like many sailors his age, Jesse has ambitions to represent Bermuda at the Olympics. But first he will have prove himself next Monday in one of the most celebrated races on the annual sailing calendar in which Bailey and Dickinson have dominated.

Jesse already has three Long Distance races under his belt, having consistently placed in the top ten with crew Rajae Woods.

Now he hopes to reach the summit along with brother Zander to make this year's race a family affair.

"It's a very exciting and fun race and it's good to get back in a local boat and competing against some very good sailors," he said.

Two-time Edward Cross Cup winner and class president, Gladwin Lambert, extended a warm welcome to the Kirklands who are among the 20-plus boats registered for next week's race from St.George's Harbour to Somerset.

"Both young men are very good sailors and have sailed in the Long Distance Race before," he said.