the Island today.

The vessels, all American-based, left Charleston on the South Carolina coast at noon on Saturday. They range from 30-foot yachts to a 40-foot catamaran skippered by Ted Turner Jr.

The first to arrive at the finishing point off St. David's will receive a rose bowl trophy donated by Bermuda's Department of Tourism. The local host is the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

The race is primarily a charity event and $80,000 has already been raised for the Leukaemia Society of America through corporate sponsorships, crew donations and an auction held last Friday night.

"I remember what Gary Lineker, one of England's football heroes, once said.

He said: `Football is a simple game. It's just 22 players running after the ball -- and in the end the Germans always win.''' -- Bayern Munich veteran Lothar Matthaus on why his side will have the edge in today's European Cup final against Manchester United.