As the start of this year's $100,000 Brut Gold Cup draws nearer, the mood at host Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) builds toward a fever pitch.

The event ranked third in terms of prestige behind only the America's Cup and Whitbred Round-the-World Race continues to distinguish itself as a spectacle not just for the sailing fraternity.

All walks of life have been drawn to Hamilton Harbour -- from curiosity seekers walking around the area to the most ardent sailing fans.

And the 1995 version promises to be bigger and better than ever. An increase in prize money and a stellar field has organisers beaming with pride.

One of those having high hopes is RBYC commodore Brian Billings, who during a press conference yesterday emphasised the glamour attached to the regatta, which boasted seven of the world's top ranked match racers, including Russell Coutts, Peter Gilmour, Ed Baird, Bertrand Pace and Roy Heiner.

There is the potential for a repeat of the America's Cup final between Stars & Stripes ' Paul Cayard and Coutts' Black Magic .

Added to that is the prospect of Dutchman Roy Heiner winning the largest cash prize in sailing history -- awarded to any skipper who can achieve victory in three of the five events on the Brut by Faberge Sailing Series. Heiner has won both Brut Cups in San Francisco and New York.

"The Brut Gold Cup continues to grow, not only in stature and size, but also in importance for Bermuda and for the world of sailing,'' said Billings.

"This year I would like to think that our event is the largest annual sailing event in the world.

"We here in Bermuda are very fortunate to have (this) calibre and quality of sailing. We get an opportunity to see something that a lot of other people in the world have no opportunity to experience.'' Asked how Bermuda continues to be a beacon for the sport and how the event continues to grow in stature, Billings noted the many innovations that have occurred in the sport in order to make it more spectator and viewer friendly.

"What we've been doing here in Bermuda and started to do a number of years ago was have the on-water umpiring, bring the racing into the (Hamilton) Harbour where people can see it and be involved.

"Match racing itself is much easier to understand (as opposed to fleet racing) you have one ahead and one behind in one design sailing. The rigging on the boat is simpler to understand, we've changed the mark format to make races a lot shorter. We also think (it's) because of Bermuda's natural amphitheatre and the hospitality shown by Bermudians to all these sailors.'' Sue Maffey of Sail Sports, the main organisers of the Cup, said she viewed the Bermuda event as an America's Cup without the politics.

Maffey was a part of Chris Dickson's Tag Heuer Win New Zealand team at the America's Cup.

"It's got all the good things and none of the bad things,'' said Maffey. "It has the best sailors, great venue, exciting format and that's what people want.'' Racing gets underway on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. with the round robin involving the 16 unseeded skippers, while the eight seeds enter the fray on Wednesday.

Also highlighted yesterday was the Bank of Butterfield Charity Race which takes place on Thursday with six skippers vying for $10,000 in the name of charity.

Each boat will represent a local charity and will sail a three-race fleet series, with the winning organisation receiving $2,500.

This year's charities include Bermuda Jubilee Sailing Trust, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Friends of the Hospice, Just Between Us, The Coalition for the Protection of Children and The Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children.

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