Thousands of sailors will glide into Hamilton Harbour as part of Bermuda's 400th anniversary celebrations.

Following the success of the Tall Ships visit to Bermuda in 2000, the Government of Bermuda has again joined with Sail Training Association Bermuda to bring the Tall Ships back in 2009.

This time it will be one of the main summer events to help Bermuda to celebrate it's 400th anniversary of permanent settlement.

The Premier Ewart Brown and Governor Sir Richard Gozney, along with a delegation from the Sail Training Association Bermuda attended a special reception for the event hosted by Senator Diane Feinstein in Washington DC last week.

The reception had been arranged by Senator Feinstein to officially announce that various US ports will also be participating in the transatlantic 2009 race. It was also the first opportunity for sail training representatives from Bermuda, Halifax and the North American host ports to meet and recruit military sail training vessels from around the world.

The Premier said: "Bermuda is very excited by the opportunity to participate in the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009. It will be a valuable experience for Bermuda's young people to be able to interact with young people from around the world."

Sail Training Association Bermuda is aiming to place at least 150 young people, aged 15 — 25 on various international ships — including the Spirit of Bermuda — on various legs of the voyages.

In 2000, some 65 international Tall Ships visited the island and the success of the 2009 race will again depend on the number of ships that agree to participate.

The chairman of The Sail Training Association of Bermuda, John Wadson, said: "We are looking to do even better than we did in 2000," Mr. Wadson said, "so we will be looking for lots of volunteers, corporate hospitality and fundraising opportunities.

""Sail training is an ongoing programme of providing sailing development and education for young people around the world but the larger focus is always on fostering discipline, teamwork, friendship, self-confidence, international and cultural understanding and cooperation".

The ships will race from Vigo, Spain to Tenerife to Bermuda to a US East Coast port in Chesapeake Bay, and Boston; up to Halifax then back across the Atlantic to end the race in Belfast. Each ship is required to have an equal number of young sail trainees, aged 15 — 25, as well as experienced crew on board.

Persons wishing further information on Tall Ships 2009, can email Sail Training Association Bermuda at stabermuda@logic.bm