Patrick Cooper will lead Bermuda’s charge at the 2021 International One Design World Championship, which get under way in the Great Sound tomorrow.

The multiple national IOD champion is competing among a formidable fleet which also boasts reigning world champions John Burnham and Peter Rugg, of the Fishers Island fleet.

“With light breezes projected for the week, the regatta is wide open,” Rick Thompson, the regatta director, told The Royal Gazette. “It will be a very competitive regatta and everyone is looking forward to an exciting week.”

The championship runs until next Thursday and consists of ten races, two per day, with teams allowed two drops. Wednesday has been set aside as a lay day.

There are 12 teams from four countries represented: two from Sweden, one from Norway and Bermuda, and the remaining eight from the United States.

In addition to Burnham and Rugg, the fleet also boasts former world champion Urban Ristorp, of Sweden, as well as Philip Kennedy, from Long Island Sound, who is making his debut at this level.

Experienced skippers Peter McCauland, from Nantucket, and Rich Pierce, from San Francisco, are also expected to be thick in the hunt for honours. Youngsters Marc Migliazzo and Tom Freemont Smith are also capable of pulling off an upset.

Organisers decided best to go ahead and stage the event after much consideration over the recent spike in Covid-19 cases on the island.

“After much discussion and evaluation of the Covid spike arising here on the island, the Bermuda International One Design Class decided it was in the best interest of the sailing community in Bermuda, our world-class association and the economy of Bermuda for us to organise and host the IOD World Championship,” Thompson added.

The island was also scheduled to host this year’s Bermuda Gold Cup and 505 World Championships.

However, both regattas have been cancelled owing to difficulties brought on by the global pandemic.