On June 14 the BT Global Challenge fleet will salute the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat, as it is tugged into the Harbor in honor of Bunker Hill Day. The National Park Service opens its new visitors center at the Charlestown Navy Yard that day, and the crews have been invited to be the honored guests.

On June 17, Boston civic leaders can mingle with the crews at a welcome party at The Boston Harbor Hotel's Wharf Room.

June is Massachusetts Telecommunications Awareness Month in the state, and the Mass Telecommunications Council will be visiting schools to explain how telecommunications makes and excellent career path. They will use www.btchallenge.com as an example of the many creative endeavors that can happen in the field of telecommunications. The Massachusetts Telecommunications Council has decided to hold its annual trade show in Boston on June 18, 19 & 20 so its attendees can visit the Challenge fleet.

The yacht sponsors will be holding customer sailing days June 18-25. These special guests can gather at a Waterside Cafe on the Wharf before setting sail.

On June 20 Challenge crew members will introduce Boston youth to sailing at the Courageous Sailing Center in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

On June 21 in cooperation with Adventure Sailing and the Courageous Sailing Center, the famale members of the crews will encourage young members of Boston's Big Sister Association to take part in a sport that has been predominately male dominated.

June 22 will be another day for kids, when Heath Insured invites youth groups aboard its yacht.

BT and MCI will host its customers June 23-26 at a variety of symposia, with a Technology Showcase expected to open on the 24th. Boston area school children can participate in the Showcase on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings June 24 and 25.

After each leg it has become customary for a prize giving ceremony to be held to honor the winning yacht as well as to recognize the crews that have done the most to help one another. All of this surrounds a rip roaring party. In Boston it will be an old fashioned New England clambake to be held at the New England Aquarium on June 24.

June 26 will be extraordinarily busy. Sir Iain Vallance, Chairman of BT and Bert C. Roberts, CEO of MCI, will speak at a luncheon of the Boston Chief Executives Club. That afternoon, at 4.30pm the British Consul General in Boston will hold a reception in honor of the two men. That evening the Corinthian Yacht Club, the host yacht club for the race is having a party for the captains and crews at the club in Marblehead, MA.

On June 27 a Gala for Children is being held to benefit the Mayor Menino project, bringing state of the art technology to all Boston Schools by the Year 2000. Funds will be raised through a raffle for Save the Children, with prizes being donated by Digital Equipment Corporation and 3 Com. The Gala is being held at the Wharf Room, Boston Harbor Hotel from 7pm to 11pm local time. For ticket information please call 617-267-7366.

The start of leg 6 from Boston to Southampton is set for June 29. The start line goes between a buoy in front of the Boston Harborside Hyatt Hotel to one opposite the World Trade Center and Fish Exchange. The start can be seen from Piers Park in East Boston, and on the Boston Waterfront.

Fourteen restaurants have agreed to adopt a boat during the stopover. These include: Dick's Last Resort, The Original Sports Saloon, Daisy Buchanan's, Charlie's Saloon, Hard Rock Cafe, Lily's Marketplace Grill & Oar Bar, Zuma's, The Black Rose, Cougan's Bluff, Joe's American Bar & Grill, Plaza 3, Tratoria II Panino, Road Trip. Michael Sherlock's Bar and Restaurant, Dooley's and the Grand Canal have also offered to entertain all of the crews during the visit.

All in all, the Boston stopover will be a momentous one for the BT Global Challenge.