Among the early entries, which are on pace to see a third consecutive 300+ boat fleet, is Dr. Wolfgang Schaefer of Kiel, Germany, who has blood in his eye.

`I am coming back,` said Schaefer, whose Farr 40, Struntje light, came on strong with first and second-place finishes in the last two races last January to place third in the marquee class. Farr 40 owners must drive their boats, but Schaefer has added impressive brainpower to his afterguard: Iain Percy of Britain, the new Star class world champion and 2000 Olympic gold medallist in the Finn class.

`We did the European circuit and the European championship in Porto Cervo where we finished second,` Schaefer said, `losing the championship in the last race.`

Struntje light will try to wrest the title from the three-year grip of Greek banker George Andreadis' Atalanti XI. The Farr 40s should be on their games following their world championship in the Bahamas in November. Always an outstanding tacticians' showcase, Key West's Farr 40 class will feature the likes of Paul Cayard on John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti and Andreadis' Robbie Haines.

They'll be joined by Holland's Peter De Ridder, the longtime `Mean Machine` campaigner in many classes making his Farr 40 debut.

Schaefer, who operates a medical clinic in Lueneburg, near Hamburg, also is a member of the management committee of the Offshore Racing Council and the Offshore Committee of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

Others coming from abroad include Italy's 1-2 finishers in September's Mumm 30 Worlds, Guiseppe Abba's Alina and Paolo Cristofori's Printel Wind, and Britain's Jamie Lea, Rob Smith and Stuart Rix, currently the top three in the Melges 24 world rankings.

Domestically, a flood of boats will be hitting the Interstate highways east and south. The J/105 class, led by Robert Johnstone's two-time defending champion, Tern 7, from Charleston, S.C., will need extra parking space for 30 or more trailers.

Invited one-design classes include the 1D35, Farr 40, J/105, J/80, J/29, Mumm 30, Melges 24 and Corsair 28R trimarans. J/120's and Tartan Ten's are working to build their numbers to one-design class status this year. The current entry list is available on the event web site.

Corsair Marine is offering special incentives. The company will pay the entry fee for a 28R ordered before Nov. 30 and also buy new sails for the first two of those orders.

Handicap racing promises some great matchups.

Mike Campbell's dark blue Victoria 5 is one of three Transpac 52s, along with Roger Sturgeon's Rosebud and David Janes's J-Bird III, making their East Coast debut and bent on showing the rest of the world the reason for all the West Coast excitement about the new class.

Britain's Markus Fiala, who will be racing Tazo, one of the new Farr 36s. Two have been built---Farr International's President Geoff Stagg owns No. 1---and both are entered. Two more may race at Key West if they're built in time.

Sponsors include Terra Nova Trading L.L.C., Mount Gay Rum, RealTick(r), Lewmar Marine, Nautica Watches and Eyewear, Pearson Yachts, Samson Rope Technologies, Saucony and the Florida Keys & Key West Tourist Development Council. The Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight is the Official Site.

The Performance Sailing Industry Partner Program is in its second year, with 22 members at press time. Members and details are on the event web site.

Racing is scheduled Monday through Friday, Jan. 20-24, on four circles off the south shore of the island. Registration is on Sunday, Jan. 19. The regatta is open to entries in PHRF, one-design and IMS classes of 24 to 85 feet LOA. PHRF entries must have a rating of 175 or lower. The entry limit is 350, and the first entry deadline is Dec. 11 at 1700 EST.

High-resolution action photographs taken by Official Photographer Walter Cooper at last January's regatta are available to qualified media for pre-event coverage. Please contact Rich Roberts.

Source: Rich Roberts