J D Sarraquigne and his yacht Bravade IV will be working hard to defend their title in the 2007 Six Metre World Championship when he comes to Cowes to compete against a record number of 50 International Six Metres from around the world.

The fleet is gathering from Monday 16th July to prepare for the event, whose racing starts on Thursday. The crew list reads like a who's who of Metre Rule history.

It includes America's Cup designers Doug Peterson and Ian Howlett, and America's Cup helmsmen and crew, among them Lawrie Smith and team members from Valencia.

While the Six Metre Class has never been as competitive as it is today, it is steeped in history.

The fleet, which will be the largest Six Metre fleet that has ever been seen in the UK, includes Classic sixes from the early 1900s as well as Modern yachts - technically innovative examples that have been designed and constructed within the last few years.

2007 is a special year for the Six Metres as the Metre Rule celebrates its 100th anniversary. Most of the Sixes here in Cowes will go on to compete in the four day Metre Centenary regatta immediately after the Worlds finish.

A feature of the week is the staging of a 2-race revival of the British American Cup which was first conceived in 1921 when a group of American and British yachtsmen raced in six-metres.

Four boats on each team raced alternatively in the Solent and at Seawanhaka, NY, until the 1950s. Four of the UK's classic Sixes, which took part in the original events, will face four of the original American yachts, some now with owners of other nationalities, to race for team victory.

The elegant Classics include Doug Peterson's 1931 built Bobkat II and Sean Cullinan's Cailin which was built before 1914. Boats to watch out for in the honours lists include Olympic legend Thomas Lundquist campaigning his Swedish modern Six Sting, and Battlecry which was runner up two years ago. Scoundrel will be campaigned by Rob Grey, and is believed to be one of the fastest sixes, built by the late Bruce Owen.