Announcing the 81st Anniversary of the 2008 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week sponsored by Bermuda Premium Spirits Ltd., local distributors of BACARDI rum.

Invitations for the 2008 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week have been sent to international competitors by Bermuda one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets for the 2008 Race Week. Festivities start with the Welcoming Cocktail Party on the Saturday the 26th of April and conclude with the Prize giving on the 2nd of May.

Keelboats classes on the Alpha course for 2008 will be International Etchells, International One Design (IOD), and J105, which will sail on Bermuda’s Great Sound. This year on the Bravo Course, the J24s and the Lasers will compete. The Bravo course will sail in the Great Sound, out of the Spanish Point Boat Club, in waters nearby the club’s beach facility.

The 2008 regatta will see global competitors from Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, US and the UK.  The entries for each class are 14 IOD, 24 Lasers, 14 J24, 5 J105 and 8 Etchells.

Racing starts at 1100hrs on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for both courses. The Bacardi Celebration on Race Week’s ‘Bat Tuesday’ leads into a ‘No Race’ day on Wednesday, just right for international guests to enjoy the sights and non-sailing activities of Bermuda.

The Prize Giving Party at RBYC concludes Race Week on Friday the 2nd of May. In addition to the fantastic sailing competition, the week is sprinkled with fleet parties.

Inaugurated by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in 1927, Bermuda International Invitational Race Week has become an established international yachting fixture each spring - attracting top skippers from all over the world. Bermuda Premium Spirits, local distributor for BACARDI rum, is the sponsor and has been for the past nine years. All classes with an active local racing program in Bermuda may invite international sailors to participate in the 2008 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. International participation is required for a fleet to compete.