Peter Bromby will make his first appearance in the one-design International Etchells in several years during this weekend’s Bermuda Sailing Association (BSA) Keelboat Nationals in the Great Sound.

The four-time Olympian is competing along with seasoned crew Leatrice Roman (bow) and ISAF judge/umpire Peter Shrubb (trimmer) for one of three available spots for next year’s Etchells World Championships in Newport, Rhode Island up for grabs.

The trio will have their work cut out for them, though, in a fleet that also includes past national champions Tim Patton and Mark Watson and past CAC Games silver medallist and Comet star Stevie Dickinson.

Bromby has spent significant time on the water in the lead up to the upcoming regatta to get reacquainted with the Etchells and gel with his crew.

“I haven’t raced the Etchells around the buoys in over three or four years,” he said. “We sailed two weekends ago and it was very necessary — in terms of finding ourselves around one another and getting up to speed — and I have to admit I had some dust.

“Leatrice and I have sailed together a bit but it was the first time I’ve sailed with Peter and it was a pleasure. We have legal advice on board.”

Bromby, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Games with crew Lee White in the Star, is expected to be thick in the hunt for Etchells World Championship qualification during this weekend’s regatta.

“We just want to have some fun,” he said. “And it’s always more fun when you win.”

Dickinson is also making his first appearance in the Etchells in several years.

The reigning Edward Cross Cup champion is sailing along with Comet Class rivals Heath Foggo and Rockal Evans.

“I haven’t sailed in an Etchells in quite awhile and also Heath because he used to sail in the Etchells as well,” Dickinson said.

Due to scheduling conflicts Dickinson and his crew haven’t been able to spend much time on the water to practice.

“We are going out there dry,” he joked. “But I think it will all come together during the regatta.

“We’ll probably go out early on Saturday morning to get used to flying the chute (spinnaker) a little bit. But as far as going to weather and sail trim I think we are pretty good at that type of stuff.

“I don’t think it will take long getting the feel of the boat and stuff like that and I think we can be very competitive. We just want to go out there and have fun and if we do really well then that’s a bonus.”

Will Thompson is the reigning national champion in the Etchells. But due to injury the veteran sailor is competing as a crew this year rather than a skipper.

Meanwhile, the stakes will also be high in the International One Design (IOD) racing sloop fleet.

The top team will all earn qualification to next year’s IOD World Championships to be held in Norway which is the country where the racing sloop originated.

Back to defend his national title is multiple IOD World Champion Penny Simmons.

Simmons currently holds a ten-point lead over nearest rival Craig Davis in the IOD World Championships qualifying series with class vice-president Patrick Cooper a further point adrift in third.

This weekend’s regatta will also feature racing in the J-105s who were not represented last year.

Bermuda’s junior sailors will also be in action during the Bermuda Optimist Nationals being held in conjunction with the Keelboat Nationals.

Promising sailor Benn Smith is the reigning national Optimist champion.