This year sees the staging of the Centennial Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda yacht race, a 605 mile event that with the RORC Fastnet and CYCA Sydney to Hobart, represent the 3 classics that are on every amateur sailors wish list.

Organised by the Royal Bermuda YC and the Cruising Club of America, the Bermuda is the oldest of the 3 classics ( the Hobart is the youngest). There is a common thread between them ,however, that goes back to the earliest Bermuda, when British sailors came back from the race and founded the Fastnet and then later, through John Illingworth a prominent RORC sailor, the Hobart. The Bermuda inspired the formation of the other two.

Around 300 yachts will start from Newport Harbour on 16 June and then head south east across the entrance to Long Island and the George Bank before crossing the Gulf Stream, the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean to the finish off St Davids Lighthouse on the east side of Bermuda.

Racing in IRC on a 43 ft Swan EAGLE will be several members of LLYC including Don Moreton, Darren Powell, Amanda Mochrie and Bob Hawes.

Daily position reports by each yacht is mandatory for safety reasons and are uploaded to the race web site, www.bermudarace.com so family and friends can follow the fleet.

LLYC has a special connection with the race when in 1954, the ketch version of LUTINE was shipped over to the USA to cruise Long Island and show the flag for Lloyd's as part of the Corporation's sales drive for US involvement in the London Market. Part of that visit included racing in the Bermuda. This is somewhat unique in that she is one the very few British registered yachts to have entered the race. Brian Stewart, LLYC President, was skipper and other club worthies were among the crew.

The race is usually associated with light to moderate winds and warm seas. The Gulf Stream temperature is around 80 degrees and sailing is thus quite different to the Channel and Irish Sea. The hospitality is generous in both Newport and Hamilton, Bermuda and the race has its own special rum based cocktail, the famous ' dark and stormy'. As the Americans say, ' this race is something else'!

Follow the race on www.bermudarace.com.