SKANDIA Cowes Week is known as a family event - and one Hampshire family really is taking it literally.

Five members of the Paton family, spanning three generations, are racing in two boats in the X One Design fleet at this year's regatta.

Rory Paton, his wife Amanda and his brother Stuart make up the crew on Diana, lent to them for the week by X boat veterans and fellow Lymington sailors Eric and Ray Williams.

Meanwhile Rory's nephew and newly crowned Laser Radial world champion Ben is taking the helm for his grandfather Derf on XL, a yacht bought 32 years ago for firewood.

Rory has been helming the six-metre classic XOD raceboats since he was 14.

The 38-year-old said: "It's really nice being able to take part in one of the best regattas in the world and sail against your father and your nephew.

"The XOD fleet we are sailing in contains a whole range of top sailors and world champions, but also our family, which is great.

"Not only do we want to do well in the fleet but also against our family members!"

Derf, 74, added: "With so many members of the family sailing together it brings us all closer.

"Of course I still take pleasure in beating my son across the line, but I want to see all the family doing well.

"The main point is that we are all out on the water enjoying hard, competitive sailing."

Derf, of Ramley Road, Pennington, bought XL, his first X boat, in 1975.

"It was always intended to go on the fire," explained Rory, of Honeysuckle Gardens, Everton.

"I was only six at the time, and I wasn't allowed to go sailing on it because it was falling apart so much."

But 32 years - and a lot of restoration - later, the boat is still going strong.

The third member of XL's crew is Rodney Charman.