An underwater cycling race will take place in Guernsey during the weekend of 3-4 September, as part of the SeaGuernsey 2005 regatta week. The event is one of the nationwide celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The race will take place across St Peter Port�s Havelet Bay to Castle Cornet � a distance of around 250 metres. Open both to PADI qualified (or equivalent) individuals and diving clubs, it is expected the event will attract an international field.

The course is likely to suit sprint specialists, with the speediest cyclists reaching finish point in around 10 minutes. The track is sandy all the way and no deeper than 6 metres, so cyclists will not need to make any decompression stops. They will also be cycling past vraic � Guernsey�s famous seaweed.

Racing will take place in heats, and a handicap system will be in place. As well as prizes for winning, there will also be a prize for the most imaginative entry, and also a small prize for everyone that enters.

Entrants will be asked to pay a nominal minimum �5 donation per person, with the proceeds donated to charity (charities have not yet been announced).

Awestruck spectators can watch from the castle�s emplacement - the breakwater leading down to Castle Cornet at the mouth of the harbour. From here they will be able to track the progress of the cyclists by means of �trailers� that will drag along the surface of the water.

Underwater cycling is a lesser known �sport of kings�; Lord Louis Mountbatten was the first member of the royal family to try the sport, captured on film off the coast Malta in the 1950�s.

More information from VisitGuernsey on 01481 723552 or visit www.visitguernsey.com

Note to editor

To register interest, underwater cyclists should contact Natalie Davidson on 01481 726052 or Natalie.d@wallacebarnaby.com. Entries can also be made on the www.seaguernsey.com website. A registration form will also be printed in all national and international dive magazines. For more information and images, visit www.seaguernsey.com