HAMILTON, BERMUDA, MAY 4, 2009 – Bermuda is in the midst of its greatest celebration in history, the 400th anniversary of the founding of Bermuda. In 1609, the flagship of the second expedition sent to America by the Virginia Company of London, named the Sea Venture, was wrecked off the shores of Bermuda (providing the theme of Shakespeare's The Tempest). The subsequent rescue one year later of the Jamestown colony in Virginia, by the survivors of that shipwreck, is one of the most important stories of the western world. This milestone is an opportunity to honor and showcase the people, the culture, and the events that have helped to build Bermuda over the past 400 years and make it what it is today. "This year of celebration has been like none other," said Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, Bermuda's Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport. "We invite locals and visitors alike to come Feel the Love and join in celebrating this monumental occasion." Upcoming events and celebrations include:

• Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009: June 11-15, 2009. The Tall Ships Fleet will race from Vigo, Spain to Halifax, Northern Ireland with a stop in Bermuda on June 11-15. It will be a historic moment for all to witness the Tall Ships arrival in Hamilton Harbour to celebrate Bermuda's 400th anniversary.
• Cup Match Cricket Festival: July 30-31, 2009. This two-day cricket match between East and West End cricket clubs is an annual favorite. The concurrent and equally important commemoration of both Emancipation Day, the 1834 freeing of Bermuda's slaves, and Somers' Day, which observe the discovery of Bermuda by Sir George Somers in 1609, make this festival a not-to-be-missed event.
• PGA Grand Slam of Golf: October 19-21, 2009. Visitors to Bermuda will once again have the chance to see some of the world's top golfers compete in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the season-ending showcase featuring golf's premier foursome. Returning to Bermuda for its third time, the high-stakes tournament will be held for the first time at the newly renovated Port Royal Golf Course. About Bermuda: Bermuda, just under two hours from East Coast gateway cities, stretches for 21 miles along turquoise waters and is surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau. Bermuda's diverse activities offer an array of vacation options, including more wreck dives than anywhere else in the world, championship golf, horseback riding, world-renowned deep sea fishing and smooth pink beaches to rest on by day's end. For more information, visit www.bermudatourism.com. CONTACT: Kelly Petrone Corbin & Associates, Ltd. (212) 246-5520 [email protected]