The Premier yesterday confirmed the Government's commitment to this summer's Tall Ships Bermuda event despite a tough economic climate.

Dr. Ewart Brown announced the Government's $456,000 contribution to Tall Ships Bermuda at a press conference held to welcome senior figures from Sail Training International to the Island.

The Premier called the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge and the accompanying local festival, "a mega event for Bermuda" during its 400th year, and signaled Government's commitment despite hard times for the economy.

"In these austere times, there are many projects that suffered from the surgeon and had to be cut back," he said. "This event means a lot more than what we see during the event. Just know that this Government is firmly committed."

The Premier joined Deputy Mayor of Hamilton Courtland Boyle and Tall Ships Bermuda Chairman John Wadson in welcoming representatives from Sail Training International, the charitable group responsible for organising this summer's Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge.

Sail Training International directorate Paul Bishop and Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge project director Andrew McCall are on the Island this weekend to conduct a final port inspection of Bermuda's facilities and operations ahead of the race, which starts in Vigo, Spain on May 3.

Mr. Bishop praised the Bermuda organisers for their emphasis on involving young sail trainees in the event, noting that he himself first visited Bermuda aboard a Tall Ship in 1984. There are currently 101 trainees from Bermuda lined up to participate in the transatlantic race, 34 of which have already been assigned to ships.

Mr. McCall said that that while the economic downturn has affected the number of ships registered, the standards for the race remain high.

"We've worked very hard in not an easy climate," he said. "The quantity is smaller than we would have liked but the quality has been terrific."

Tall Ships Bermuda still seeks sponsors, specifically to subsidise sail trainees so that young Bermudians are able to take part in the historic race. Chair John Wadson said local organisers are now $375,000 short of their $2 million fundraising target, but remain cautiously optimistic that sponsors will come forward. He hopes the story of mother-of-four Lotiqua Phillips, who is to cross the Atlantic in a Tall Ship thanks to Mailboxes Unlimited, will inspire others to join in or contribute.

Mr. Wadson and his Tall Ships Bermuda team have visited every secondary school on the Island to drum up interest in the sail trainee programme. He added that Tall Ships Bermuda is "ahead of the game" in terms of local volunteers and liaisons. Two hundred volunteers and 65 liaison officers have signed up to help in the run-up to June's Bank of Bermuda Foundation Tall Ships Festival, a five-day celebration that will see at least 22 Tall Ships congregate in Hamilton Harbour and festivities Island-wide.

l People can sign up as sail trainees, liaison officers and volunteers on the website: www.tallshipsbermuda.com