Alex Jackson's 98-foot yacht, Speedboat, is now a firm candidate to shatter the six-year old Newport to Bermuda Race record.

Jackson, 42, recently gave up his job as an investment manager at Polygon Investment Partners LLP to devote more time to sailing and is among the 220 Newport to Bermuda race entries who will set sail from Castle Hill Rhode Island for Bermuda next Friday.

Speedboat has already been clocked at speeds in excess of 28 knots and if weather conditions permit could be on course to eclipse Roy Disney's race record set onboard Pywacket (53 hours, 39 minutes and 12 seconds) during the 2002 635-mile ocean crossing.

Jackson's yacht was recently delivered from New Zealand to Newport, Rhode Island.

Current World Match Racing Tour champion, Ian Williams, of Britain took a three-month sabbatical to concentrate his efforts solely on sailing two years ago. And it now remains to be seen whether Jackson's decision to his quit his job in favour of spending more time on the high seas is met by the same success enjoyed by lawyer Williams, who is also a former King Edward VII Gold Cup winner.

Speedboat is ranked among the world's fastest monohull yachts.

This year will see the second largest fleet compete in the oldest ocean race for amateur sailors.

Bermuda will be represented by a total of seven local boats in this year's event which promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

The Newport to Bermuda rhumbline race course is one of the most challenging ocean courses anywhere in the world and, depending on weather conditions, can be won by boats of all classes.

Since the inaugural race was held in 1906, only two boats have been lost after running aground on Bermuda's treacherous reefs and one life claimed during a fire onboard schooner Adriana in 1932.