'Come one, come all' is the message behind a brand new sailing festival to be held this weekend in the City of Hamilton.

The Argo Group Festival of Sail 2008 will be held at Barr's Bay Park and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) on October 11 and 12.

The pirate-themed event will include sea shanty performances, face painting, fun castles, boat rides, a boat show, sailing instruction for adults and kids, tours of the Spirit of Bermuda and much more.

Organiser and Commodore of the RBYC, Ralph Richardson said he had little exposure to sailing as a child.

"I didn't grow up in sailing," Mr. Richardson said. "This speaks to the change we see today. When I was a young boy there weren't too many people in my neighbourhood that went sailing.

"I didn't know anyone with parents who were members of RBYC. In fact, we weren't allowed."

But he said a recent visit to a public middle school revealed that many of the children there had been sailing.

"In my day not a hand would have gone up," said Mr. Richardson.

He said the aim of the festival is to encourage local interest in sailing.

"Our ultimate goal is that people who have never sailed before get the opportunity to do it for the first time," said Mr. Richardson.

"That would be so exciting for us to see that happening. I am hoping that we get a thousand people a day. It is free and people are always looking for things to do with their kids."

Mr. Richardson said they wanted to see people of all ages and walks of life.

"We are promoting sailing," he said. "Our goal is to entice all ethnic backgrounds to the sport. There is this idea that sailing is for the elite. But that is not the case anymore."

The Argo Group Festival of Sail 2008 coincides with the semi-finals and finals of the King Edward VII Gold Cup match races in Hamilton Harbour from October 7 to 12.

"This is the King Edward VII Gold Cup's 101st year," said Mr. Richardson. "Bermuda was one of the founding members of the World Match Racing Tour.

"We are one of eight match racing events going around the world. It really is about the only spectator racing sport in sailing. Most yacht racing takes place way out in a harbour and you need to have a boat to go out and see it. Not so with this race."

The RBYC is open to the public the entire week of the race. A special bridge is being built from Barr's Bay Park to the RBYC. Bleachers will be set up there so that people can watch the races. Because match racing rules are complicated, there will be a professional commentator there to explain the race to onlookers.

Mr. Richardson said that the Festival of Sail 2008 is based on a similar event, the Charleston Maritime Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. This event attracts around 20,000 people each year.

At the Argo Group Festival of Sail 2008, the organisation Big Brothers & Big Sisters will be highlighted in honour of their 30th anniversary.

Big Brothers & Big Sisters is a mentor group that sets up adults or 'Bigs' with children or 'Littles' who are in need of a bit of one-on-one attention.

"My grandchildren have been involved in sailing, so it is definitely more accessible," said Esme Williams executive director of Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

"Also, some of our Bigs have boats and have taken their Littles sailing.

"We were just delighted to have been selected as the charity to participate in this first annual event."

Bigs and Littles will be volunteering at the event, working the various stalls, and doing whatever needs to be done.

"The response has been awesome," said Mrs. Williams.

"It will be good because they will be doing an activity together.

"The Littles will also be exposed to sailing at the festival.

"In this setting we were ecstatic. This will be a good opportunity. They will be able to go on the boats. It will open up this aspect of being able to sail, or what it would mean to sail. Plus, we are giving back to the community. It is just a win-win for us."

Mr. Richardson said he has seen the positive power of sailing worked on young people.

It was his training as a diesel technician that eventually got him to sea.

During the trip on an 80-foot maxi he experienced 25-foot seas.

"I've never seen it so bad since then," said Mr. Richardson.

Despite the rough initiation he was hooked on sailing.

"Sailing is in my family," said Mr. Richardson. "I came back from that trip and I knew I had to do it."

He has since done seven Marion to Bermuda Yacht races, plus other yacht races.

"That one trip in 1981 totally changed my life to the point where I know I would be doing something different if I hadn't gone," said Mr. Richardson.

"It led me to teaching marine engines, navigation and writing my book 'The Bermuda Boater'. It was all a result of that.

"Because of that I understand how sailing can change a person's life.

"I have seen young people come through the sailing programmes and just do so well."

He said one of his goals at the RBYC is to develop sailing as a national sport.

"I think our history in sailing is important," he said.

He believed that with Bermuda's up-and-coming sailors or "rock stars" Bermuda would soon win a medal in sailing in the Olympics.

"We have come fourth several times in sailing," he said. "We are very close."

For more information about the Argo Group Festival of Sail 2008 go to www.blotgraphix.com/festival.