Local organisers of a massive sailing event slated for next year have called on volunteers to come forward and lend a hand.

The Tall Ships 2000 Race will see a fleet of around 70 to 80 vessels descending upon Bermuda between June 9 and 12.

The Island is just one of a list of stops, including Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Cadiz in Spain and Charleston in South Carolina.

Tall Ships 2000-Bermuda chief liaison officer Ralph Richardson said he was looking for more than a 100 volunteers to act as shipboard liaison officers for eight hours each day while the vessels are in port.

The volunteers would be responsible for providing any local information the captain of the vessel they are stationed on was looking for.

While all the skippers will receive information packs on the Island before they arrived, Mr. Richardson said, it was unlikely that they would have time to read all the information contained and would instead rely on their liaison officer.

So far 53 volunteers have signed up to fill this role. But Mr. Richardson estimated that he was going to need closer to 200 people.

And he warned that the event would not work unless there were enough volunteers to fill the roles of liaison officers and other posts.

Volunteers, who are able to work with computers, create databases, and operate a tender service between the visiting vessels and the shore, are also required.

People interested in becoming volunteers can contact the Tall Ships 2000 local office on 296-4696.