International sailing events bring about 4,000 visitors to the Island and one event alone has the sales impact of almost $5 million, a top sailing official said yesterday.

And the economic benefits from these events are not just limited to the money they bring to the Island during their stay. Coverage for the Brut Gold Cup match racing event was beamed to 84 countries and 120 million homes.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Commodore Mr. Brian Billings told Hamilton Rotarians at their weekly luncheon yesterday afternoon that Bermudians had reaped economic benefits from international sailing since the Sea Venture wrecked upon our shores.

He explained how this was followed by putting lights on the cows grazing on Wreck Hill at night to lure sailors to our shores and how Bermudians took their warm hospitality to the high seas and brought back even more sailors -- plus their ships and cargo -- to the Island.

It was when people attached "very unpleasant names to these activities'' that Bermudians turned to a more respectable means -- and a less confrontational manner -- of obtaining an economic benefit for the Island from international sailors.

Bermuda's sailing clubs now put on about ten international sailing events ranging from the Newport to Bermuda Race which in 1994 attracted 150 yachts, to the Youth Worlds which attracted almost 400 youths from 42 countries in 1995.

A University of Rhode Island study showed the Newport fleet and the number of sailors, family and friends it attracted could have a sales impact on the Island of $4.9 million.

This was the equivalent of having twenty-eight 1,000 passenger cruise chips or 3,500 regular tourists visit the Island.

The events held in Bermuda are prestigious events, continued Mr. Billings. The St. David's Lighthouse Trophy is the most coveted sailing prize outside of the America's Cup and the Brut Gold Cup is second only to the America's Cup in stature in match racing.

He said the competitors and their families became "roving ambassadors for the Island'' and the events attracted world wide media coverage.

Bermudians were blessed by one of the most beautiful playing fields in the world for competitive sailing, said Mr. Billings, but the present events must be enhanced and new ones added to increase its value.

Discussions were under way to have the Whitbread Around the World Race use Bermuda as a stop and an Antigua to Bermuda race and a Guadeloupe to Bermuda to the Azores to France race had been proposed.

Bermudians had to keep searching for and developing other opportunities, said Mr. Billings, "including, dare we dream, the America's Cup.''