A TEAM of about 50 young North-Easterners are being offered the chance of a lifetime to take centre stage in what promises to be one of the region's biggest events of 2005.

The Tall Ships Race comes to the region in July, with 100 of the world's most elegant sailing ships heading for the Tyne.

This is the third time the Tall Ships have come to Tyneside, which previously staged the race in 1986 and 1993. Thousands of visitors are expected to line the Quayside in an event which is expected to inject up to £50m into the local economy.

Although the event has become closely associated with the region over the years, very few of the participants come from the North-East.

Now the North-East Sailing Team, based in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, has launched a recruitment drive to find crew members from the region to take part and race against more than 50 other vessels across the North Sea from Newcastle to Fredrikstad, in Norway.

Members of the team, aged from 18 to 23, will be taught to sail by experts then complete the race on Chay Blyth's original Round The World 67ft ocean-going racing yacht.

Peter Stenner, the team's chief executive and sailing director, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for around 50 North-Easterners to join us next year and to be trained to sail and race under the guidance of professional round the world skippers.

"It really can be a life-changing experience for the young people who get involved."

Participants will also have a chance to sail on Bessie Ellen, a 115ft West Country trading ketch built in 1904.

Volunteers need to be available between July 10 and August 5. Up until race day, they will be taught the theory of sailing, followed by full training by experts on board the vessel, ahead of the race which starts on July 28.

Mark Richardson, 24, from Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, has decided to take part.

He said: "The race is all about teamwork, endurance, commitment and partying."

For details, visit the website www.northeastsailingteam.co.uk or contact the North-East Sailing Team by fax on 0191-384 6728 or write to 7 Old Elvet, Durham City DH1 3HL.