cannot afford to fork out $9,000 for a voyage of a lifetime aboard the sail-training tall ship Astrid .

Mr. Richard Thornton is about to launch a cash drive to raise enough money to send four 17 to 25-year-olds on educational voyages aboard Astrid every year.

The 75-year-old iron-hulled Astrid is one of just three square-rigged brigs in the world, and the only one flying the British flag.

She is a regular visitor to Bermuda while on her trans-Atlantic voyages and is set to call again around Easter. On board will be young Bermudian Miss Sharon Thorn.

Mr. Thornton hopes to have the Astrid Trust Fund of Bermuda up and running by the time Astrid arrives for a three-day visit.

He said he needed to raise $500,000 to accomplish this and would start the drive in about two weeks as soon as she was registered.

Mr. Thornton said the Bank of Bermuda -- which has been sponsoring two local youngsters a year to travel on the Astrid -- had already made a significant contribution to the fund.

But he did not want the fund to be purely a Bank of Bermuda venture. He would be going after the entire business and local community to contribute.

"Everybody's dollar is welcome,'' he said.

The Astrid takes up to 26 young men and women on two trans-Atlantic voyages a year, starting in the Caribbean and stopping at Bermuda, the Azores, Spain and Portugal. It also offers a seven-week trip through the Caribbean and short summer cruises.

Mr. Thornton's interest in Astrid stems from his friendship with the former Royal Navy commander who found and reconditioned her and then formed the Astrid Trust five years ago.

When Cmdr. Graham Neilson joined the Royal Navy, Mr. Thornton -- the son of a naval officer -- entered the business world. However, he remained a keen sailor and currently owns two yachts.

"I think sailing on the Astrid would be a particularly good venture for young people,'' he said. "You're at sea for three months and have to get along with 26 other people.

"And because there are obvious dangers at sea, there has to be strict discipline.'' Mr. Thornton said anyone aged between 17 and 25 who was interested in going on one of the voyages could apply.

Obviously those who get violently sea sick or are afraid of heights would not be good candidates, he noted.

The Trust would select the four youngsters it felt would benefit the most from a voyage on Astrid , he said, adding local sea cadets would be the most obvious starting point.

Those selected will be required to contribute something to the cost, he said, though it will depend on their financial situation.

BEAUTY ON THE HIGH SEAS -- The sail-training tall ship Astrid .