assembled, it was confirmed last night.

Tall Ships 2000 is planning to sail about 180 of ships from Africa to America -- and will make Bermuda its Atlantic stop-over.

Last night one of the volunteers organising the Bermuda event, Brian Billings said: "It will be a fantastic sight. It is a tremendous win/win situation for the Island.

"It is a great coup and we are all really excited about the benefits it will bring for Bermuda.'' A meeting of Tall Ships 2000 in London, England, last week confirmed Bermuda's involvement in the event which is being arranged as a celebration of the millenium.

About 180 of the world's finest sailing ships will be gathered into three fleets.

The main fleet will assemble in March, 2000, in Cadiz, Spain, and two smaller fleets will assemble in Southampton, England, and Genoa, Italy.

From there they will sail to Bermuda, stopping for a week, before racing to Boston and then back to Europe.

Mr. Billings said he had heard nothing official from the London meeting but had been told verbally by Tall Ships officials that Bermuda was on the list of stops.