clock now ticking off the days to the official arrival of the tall ships in Hamilton Harbour.

When the clock hits all zeros at noon on June 8 it will signal the official end of the Spain to Bermuda leg of the race and the festivities will begin.

To help get people in the mood, Masterworks and a group of secondary school students are repainting the wooden walls surrounding the vacant lot next to Carousel Liquors at the eastern end of Front Street.

Design company Harris & Mitchell are designing the walls so they show the flags for each of the countries that have a tall ship visiting Bermuda during the race and silhouettes of the various styles of ships.

Five- and six-year-old artists will also be doing some of the painting.

A bake sale was held at three different MarketPlace locations last Saturday to raise funds to support the Bermudian trainees on the ships.

Another fund-raising event is planned for May 20 and promises to be a day not to be missed.

The Bermuda Athletic Association's field and car park will be home to the biggest car wash and car boot sale ever seen.

And word has it that the Belco Bird will be making an appearance.

Anyone wishing to donated items for sale or participate can contact the Tall Ships 2000 office at 296-4696.

On corrected time: Tall Ships 2000 event organisers Joan Williams (far left) and Carol Willis (far right) joined Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt to start the clock countdown to the arrival of the ships racing from Spain to Bermuda.