The Tall Ships Association of Bermuda (TSAB) is hoping to meet with the Collector of Customs and Finance Minister this week to resolve problems that arose at the weekend over a sailing trip for Bermudians.

The TSAB had to cancel four days of planned trips around the Island on the tall ship Europa, which was visiting Bermuda at the request of the group in order to give residents the opportunity to experience a tall ship.

But at 6 p.m. on Friday, organisers were handed a letter from Customs advising them to cancel the trips because the ship was a foreign vessel and therefore not duty-paid, and so unable to do commercial trips.

Eleventh hour talks with Finance Minister Eugene Cox failed to resolve the legislative issue in time, so the trips had to be cancelled. But last night one of the organisers, John Wadson, said the group still hoped to hold similar events in the future and had been very enthused by the response of the public. He said the trips were organised by TSAB, not the Europa, and while part of the proceeds were going to be donated to the ship, most of it was to help fund the group.

And although all of the 300 people who were booked on the trips have been offered a refund, some have told the group to keep the cash and put it to good use for the future.

Mr. Wadson, who was involved in the organising of the Tall Ships 2000 event last year which saw many Bermudians sail around the world on Europa, said the point of the visit and the group was to give locals the opportunity to experience tall ships.

He said naivety on the group's part, and a lack of time, meant Customs had been not consulted. "We were surprised to get the letter because we thought we had done our homework. We had been to Marine and Ports and to the Department of Youth and Sport, and thought we had everything covered.

"But the Collector of Customs has undertaken to meet with the TSAB and the Finance Minister this week to look at the situation. It is my hope that we can find a way forward with the concept of sail training, so that we can resolve this issue, so that in future we can invite tall ships to come to Bermuda to provide a sail training experience for locals."

"I think there are ways around it, but I don't think it will be resolved this week. This could mean that legislation has to be looked at.

"But we do look forward to a positive resolution. We are very enthused by the response we got from people and look forward to be able to offer these opportunities in the future."

Mr. Wadson said he was embarrassed that he and organisers had brought Europa to Bermuda for the sole purpose of sail training, only to find out that the concept was not allowed.

But he said, while Europa's owners were disappointed at the outcome, they hoped to continue the relationship with Bermuda and return for sail training in future. Europa is sailing to Jacksonville, Florida, later this morning and is looking for Bermudians who wish to take part in the eight-day voyage. Anyone interested should go to Ordnance Island in St. George's before she sails at 10 a.m. today.