Bermuda will be represented by two teams at the 2014 Etchells World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island.

Flying the Island’s flag are Tim Patton and Mark Watson, who are both former national Etchells champions. Another local sailor, Jesse Kirkland, who represented Bermuda in the 49er skiff at the 2012 London Olympics, forms part of the crew of American team, American Jane II, led by captain Scott Kauffman.

Among the pre-regatta favourites are American Marvin Beckmann, the defending champion, and Aussie John Bertrand who skippered Australia II to victory in the 1983 America’s Cup in Newport, ending 132 years of American dominance.

“John Bertrand is a big draw because this is where he won the America’s Cup,” said Patton, who is sailing on Thrash with crew Peter Martin and Jason Owen. “The 99-boat fleet consists of some of the world’s best sailors and is probably the deepest fleet I have ever sailed in terms of talent.”

Patton, the acting Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association president, took advantage of yesterday’s practise race to familiarise himself with the local conditions.

“The conditions are quite different to Bermuda, but that is why we go to different venues,” he said. “The boat we are using is oldish, but we think we have it pretty well tuned up. And, given all of the above, I think we would be ecstatic to get into the top half of the fleet.”

The offshore regatta, hosted by the New York Yacht Club, will be held in Long Island Sound and will consist of nine races.

A minimum of six races must be completed to constitute a series with all scores to count towards a boat’s final total.

The regatta will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).

The forecast for today’s start of the 2014 Etchells World Championship calls for 18-20 knot winds which are expected to strengthen tomorrow.