IT’S the most hotly anticipated week on the nautical calendar – and it’s just hours away.

Hundreds of boats, thousands of competitors and tens of thousands of spectators will descend on the Isle of Wight from tomorrow for the annual Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

And once again it’s promising to be quite a sight both on and off the water as boats come from across the globe to take part in the biggest sailing regatta in the world.

And for the people of Hampshire it couldn’t be more tempting to take the half-hour ride across the Solent and be part of one of the most iconic sailing events in history.

More than 800 boats have so far registered to compete this year and organisers say more are still signing up ahead of the firing gun being sounded as racing gets under way at the slightly earlier time of 10am on Saturday.

On shore events begin tonight as the pre-sail party atmosphere gets under way in Cowes Yacht Haven and along Cowes Parade.

But tomorrow night will be all about the Toe in the Water charity event of the week as a crew party takes place to celebrate the third and final year of the organisation being the official charitable cause of the regatta.

Family friendly The charity, celebrating its fifth birthday this year, supports injured servicemen and women, who have suffered life-changing and traumatic injuries and enables them to be part of a competitive event and perform to their physical limits.

Sunday sees the return of the popular ‘family day’ designed to encourage adults with children to be part of Cowes Week. Special ticket prices for spectator boat trips to catch all the action up close on the water, or a thrilling rib ride on the Solent will all be on offer while air guitar and pirate themed events as well as a circus skills workshop will all take place on shore.

The regatta receives a royal seal of approval once again when The Princess Royal pays a visit to the Island on Monday while later in the day a collection of Britain’s sportsmen and women, including Weymouth’s Olympian windsurfer Nick Dempsey and Gosport’s round the world sailor Alex Thompson, will compete in the Volvo Sailing Speed Challenge.

With the famous Fastnet race taking place again this year, Tuesday will see the start of a mini big boat series that will take place over three days. Crews will be out on the water on some of the biggest and fastest boats in the world, which have come from as far afield as Sydney, America and Abu Dhabi to take part.

The evening will be one not to miss if you like your live music, with an appearance by 80s band The Wonder Stuff in the yacht haven while The Cuban Brothers will take to the stage on Cowes Parade.

Racing continues on Wednesday with an extra treat of exhibition racing off the green in the afternoon before all attention turns to the ladies on Thursday. The annual Ladies Day is designed to celebrate women in sailing and their achievements on and off the water. Faces to look out for will include former TV challenge star Anne-ka Rice as well as local girl Shirley Robertson, a former Olympic gold medallist, and Paralymp-ian Helena Lucas, who scooped gold at London 2012.

On the water the famous Artemis Chall-enge will also take place with eight boats so far registered to compete in the Round-the-Island race in a bid to win a charity prize of £10,000.

And once again the week-long event will be rounded off with a spectacular fireworks display set to light up the skies over Cowes – but not before the much-loved Red Arrows display team perform their breathtaking routine over the yacht haven at 7.30pm.

Stuart Quarrie, chief executive officer of Cowes Week Limited, said he was looking forward to another incredible year.

He said: “With a fantastic forecast for the start of the week this year’s regatta promises to be another great success”.