Bermuda is set to host yet another world championship event, with the Island recently being confirmed as the venue for the 1995 International Yacht Racing Union Youth World Championships.

Neil Burnie, president of the Bermuda Board Sailing Association (BBSA), was understandably pleased with the granting of the event to Bermuda and was looking forward to having many of the world's top junior board sailors plying their trade in local waters.

Frenchman Stephane Joeuen, the recent winner of the Youth IMCO Worlds held in Brest, France, was one mentioned as a possibility as was runner-up Dean Tomlinson of the United Kingdom.

Locals expected to get their first taste of intense international competition in the event limited to those under the age of 19 are 17-year-old Martin Mello, son of well-known crewman Roger Mello, and 14-year-old Grant Spurling, who recently took delivery of his own IMCO board in order to prepare specifically for the prestigious regatta.

It was also hoped that the event would aid in generating added interest in the sport known to produce more than its share of thrills and spills, with competitors, armed only with a board and a sail, placing themselves at the mercy of Mother Nature.

What made Bermuda even more of a surprise choice to host the event was the fact that there had been little or no organised racing last season mainly due to lack of interest and a similar dearth of new blood being added into the sport.

"The renewed interest in long-board sailing, with the Youth Worlds and Olympics coming up will hopefully generate interest in racing these boards,'' said Burnie, noting how the shorter, faster ones popular with the locals limited races to that of the slalom variety, rather than windward-leeward.

"The association hopes at some point to regain access to the Daniel's Head Beaches, because they offer extremely safe launching into a sailing area which can be utilised in many different wind directions.'' The area Burnie was speaking about was formerly the site of the Canadian Base, which has been vacated since early this year. Currently the BBSA is in discussions with the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation regarding use of the facility.

Meanwhile, in other local board sailing news, this year's set of four championship regattas, while still awarding winners each time, will serve as a series with an overall winner being decided by point accumulation following the four events.

The season gets underway on Sunday with the West End Regatta being produced by the West End Sailboat Club (first race 11 a.m.), with racing taking place just off Long Bay in Somerset.

Burnie assured that every effort would be made to have the race close to shore in order to present better viewing for spectators.

Other races on the calendar include the Famous Onions, Oasis High Winds and BBSA Nationals.

WELCOME A-BOARD -- Bermuda will host the 1995 International Yacht Racing Union Youth World Championships.