Bill McNiven is excited to help his team defend the Vrengen Gold Cup in the International One Design Class during the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week regatta, which gets under way in the Great Sound today.

The experienced sailor has replaced Patrick Cooper at the helm and is optimistic that he and his colleagues can get the job done as they attempt to win the coveted showpiece for the fourth straight year.

“We are looking forward to it, we’re all happy,” McNiven, the North American IOD champion, told The Royal Gazette. “We’ve sailed together for quite a while now, so we know each other very well and know what to expect.”

It is the second straight year the helm of the team has swapped hands as Cooper replaced Martin Siese in the role last year.

Cooper is serving on jib and spinnaker this time around, Siese as tactician, Melinda Bessey on bow and Andrew Butterworth on the mainsheet.

“We’ve got the same team as we’ve had the last ten plus years but Bill is helming this time,” Cooper said. “We’ve won it with Martin, won it with me and now it’s Bill’s turn.”

The local defender have their work cut out competing in a formidable fleet that features two-times Vrengen Gold Cup winner Ted Murphy of the Chester, Nova Scotia IOD fleet.

Oliver Dix (England), Morten Tenvig (Norway), Anton Larsson (Sweden), Courteney Jenkins (USA) and Hanna Vincent (USA) head up the other overseas teams competing in the regatta. Larsson and Tenvig are both making their regatta debut.

“A lot of the top guys are coming so it will be game on,” McNiven said.

The IOD fleet are again competing in the “A” series for the Jordy Walker Memorial Trophy and “B” series for the Dick Kempe memorial Trophy, with the Vrengen Gold Cup being awarded to the overall winner.

McNiven’s team won the “A” series and pipped “B” series winners led by helmsman Kelsey Durham by a solitary point for the Vrengen Gold Cup last year.

A new “B” series champion will be crowned this year as Durham is competing in the J-105 class this time around.

The J-105s is the only other class involved in this year’s regatta and will feature all local sailors, including four-times Olympian Peter Bromby, who is also looking forward to challenging for honours out on the water.

“It’s a one-day event; it’s five races and anything can happen, so we are looking forward to it.” Bromby said.

Bromby’s team also consists of Lee White (trimmer), who served as his crew competing in the Star class at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, Josh Brewlay (pit), Ron Stan (bow), Christian Luthi (mainsheet) and Sean Corriea (mast).

“We’ve got our normal team and hopefully we can have a good showing,” Bromby added.

The J-105 will contest their series today, with the IOD fleet kicking off the “A” series tomorrow.