Some 240 sailors from 45 countries will take part in the prestigious event which officially starts on July 8 with the opening ceremonies to be held on Sunday, July 9 in Dockyard at 6 p.m.

Local junior sailors will carry the country signs for an Olympic style march-past and the event will begin in earnest with the first race on Monday, July 10.

Competitors will be sailing in single-handed Lasers, double-handed Laser II's and on Mistral sailboards, both men and women in each class. There will be three separate race courses in the Great Sound for each class. A number of social events are also planned.

The closing ceremony will be held on Monday, July 17 beginning at 6.30 and the awards will be presented outside the Clocktower at a ceremony featuring the Bermuda Gombeys.

ROAD RACING RUN One of Bermuda's longest running road races, the annual Couples Race, is set for this Sunday with a new start time of 8.30 a.m.

The Fidelity-sponsored event, which sees men run five miles and women five kilometres with the combined times determining the various category winners, was launched back in the late 1970s and has been held every year since.

In order to increase competition seeded runners are not allowed to team up, and this year seven women and 17 men have been named in the list of seeds.

Last year's overall champions Maria Conroy Haydon and Colin Swan are expected to defend their title.

Among the draw prizes are three travel vouchers worth $250 and as an added attraction this year a series of races for children (one to 11) will be held on Fidelity property after the main event while results are being tabulated.

Entry forms can be picked up from the usual sports outlets.

GOLF GLF Bermuda's junior golfers grabbed the honours for the second week out of three in the Amstel League A division on Saturday.

With the league played in conjunction with the Amateur Strokeplay at Port Royal, Duncan Zelkin fired 74 while Chris Garland, Robbie Spurling and David James all carded 78s for an overall 308 -- two ahead of Mid Ocean Club.

Mid Ocean, however, still hold a slender one point lead in the standings with Ocean View a further one point behind the juniors.

In the B division, the BGA Men and the BGA Ladies tied for first place leaving the BGA Men with a five point lead over Ocean View after three weeks' play.

Play in the A division this Saturday switches to Belmont while the B division takes a break.

DARTS DRT Bermuda Darts Association summer super league was due to get underway last night with five matches scheduled. The format differs from the winter league in that all players on each team play each other in one leg of 701.

The Association's annual general meeting is scheduled for June 26 at National Sports Club, starting at 8.00 p.m. And the annual prize presentation will take place on July 8 at Ocean View Golf Club.

Anyone interested in accompanying the Bermuda team competing at the Darts World Cup in Basle, Switzerland later this year is invited to attend an important meeting at BAA this evening, starting at 8.00.

RUGBY RUG The Kiwi Touch Rugby league continues at National Sports Club this evening with the first games at 6.00. Ten teams in the league have so far each played twice with Funky Psychos and The Pie Meisters the only sides with a perfect record.

This evening's schedule: 6.00 -- Hands Off v Bermuda Chefs; Chameleons v Funky Psychos. 6.30 -- Riddell's Bay Rookies v Bushwackers; Oliver Twist v The Pie Meisters. 7.00 -- Symphony v The Old Bs.

TENNIS TEN Coral Beach Tennis Club will hold their annual club championships from July 8 to July 15. Entries close at 12.00 noon on July 6. Further details can be obtained from club pro Derek Singleton.

SOCCER SOC The Kenny Thompson Soccer Classic will run from July 14-26. Any teams interested in participating should call Armell Thomas (236-5676), Thompson (234-1979) or Richard Scott (234-0375) after 6 p.m.

Deadline for entries is June 30. All the matches, seniors, under-14 and under-12, will be held at the Southampton Glebe and Cedar Grove school field starting at 5 p.m.