So far 41 countries have confirmed their team participation and at least nine others are believed to be seriously interested and are being encouraged to register by the June 15 deadline.

The record entry of 43 countries was set at last year's youth championships held in Marathon, Greece.

Said International Yacht Racing Union event coordinator Jacqueline Milton: "The union is very encouraged by the early confirmation of entries which is running well ahead of previous events.

"We are confident this will be one of the best World Youth Sailing Championships for Bermuda is one of those unique locations where only a few sailors ever have a chance to visit.

"Bermuda makes this a very special World Youth event.'' Bermuda Yachting Association director Chuck Millican confirmed that all of the world's recognised top sailing countries had entered full teams in the boys and girls doublehanded and singlehanded (Laser II and Laser) divisions as well as the boardsailing (Mistral) division.

Full team participation was expected from New Zealand, Australia, France, USA, UK, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Spain who are expected to be the main contenders for the prestigious Nautica Cup team points championship.

Meanwhile, Star Excess Bermuda yesterday joined the growing list of local sponsors for the championships.

The Bermuda-based company have agreed to support the Laser II boys doublehanded class, a move welcomed by BYA chairman James Macdonald who cited the company's involvement as "a good example of the corporate support we would like to achieve from the Bermuda business community.'' The Bank of Butterfield have already agreed to sponsor the Laser boys singlehanded class while Esso Bermuda and Wedco have also offered their backing.

All sailors 18 years and under are invited to compete for the selection to the Bermuda national youth sailing team which will enter the IYRU Nautica World Youth Sailing Championships.

All interested sailors are required to fill out the registration form at the Bermuda Yachting Association office by June 15.

The selection trials will take place in the Great Sound on July 1-2.

VOLLEYBALL VOL Recent volleyball action at Shelly Bay featured some very competitive matches in both men and women's play.

The highlight saw Mark Bell and Adam Wong win the men's A Division and retain their title with a victory over Mark Monighan and David Gazzard.

Monighan and Gazzard took the first game by a convincing margin on 11-0, but their opponents recovered and came back to take the next two by margins of 11-6, 11-6.

In the ladies A Division the expected top seeds Lisa Dragon and Denise Sommerville and Wendy Cummings and Amy Justice reached the finals.

Dragon and Sommerville won the first game 11-7, but were then upset and sent down to defeat in the next two by scores of 11-5 and 11-5 with Cummings and Justice being crowned the new doubles champions of the division.

Men's B Division play saw Barry Mah and Mark Waddington defeat Gladstone Grant and Joe Teceira.

DARTS DRT The Ladies Invitational League concluded their 1995 schedule with BAA Greens and BAA Whites capturing most of the trophies.

BAA Greens defeated Hamilton Parish Workmen's Club in their 1001 champions play-off game after R.Hill and Norman Lynn Showers scored 100 and 180 respectively to put their team in a comfortable position at one stage.

But hopes were dashed since Parish were unable to hold on, allowing their opponents to take the initiative and win everything.

SNOOKER SNO Bermuda stand second after the first seven rounds of the International Pool League Championships, currently underway in Toronto, Canada.

Leading the way is Halifax with four rounds remaining. But the local team still harbour hopes of overhauling the leaders.

Individually, Bermuda has similarly fared well, with team captain Paul Charleton excelling among the B Division with 14 wins, including a fine 39 break -- highest in the division -- while team-mate Steve Dunleavy has contributed 10 victories in the C Division.

GOLF GLF The novice section of play in the Bermuda Junior Golf Association's tournament on Saturday saw Andrew Boyce shoot a 49 over nine holes to win by one shot over Tim Ryan. Mike Smith was a further four shots adrift.

In the Players' Programme at Port Royal, Davin Smith and Paul Murphy shot nine holes scores of 47 to win the Group I section by four shots over Doug Markey.

Group II honours went to Charles Markey and Fraser Hunt who both managed to shoot 58 for 13 holes to defeat Mark Robinson by six shots.

Chris Smith led Group III with a 15-hole score of 64. He won by four shots over B.J.Payne, Jeremy Drover was third on 71.

Robert Spurling and Daymon Smith tied for first in Group IV with a 15-hole score of 67 to edge out Justin Barritt who had a 69.