SOUTHAMPTON'S annual Boat Show spectacular starts today with tens of thousands of visitors set to descend on the city over the coming days.

The event, which generates millions of pounds for the local economy, was officially opened by round the world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur.

It features a host of new attractions and some of the most luxurious boats money can buy.

Organisers are expecting more than 130,000 visitors over the next ten days to the extravaganza at Mayflower Park.

Among the highlights at the event is the chance to help crew an America's Cup yacht, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind galleon and an activity zone featuring state-of-the-art boat, car and motorbike simulators.

A Sotheby's Antiques Valuation Centre will give people the chance to have their nautical treasures valued and celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson will be in charge at the AWT At Sea on-site restaurant.

Councillor Peter Wakeford, Cabinet member for leisure, culture & tourism at the city council, said the event, now in its 35th year, gave a huge boost to the city.

"The Southampton Boat Show has celebrated over three successful decades in the city," he said.

"While it is difficult to quantify its precise monetary value, it is clear that an event that fills the vast majority of hotel rooms around the city, attracts an estimated 130,000 visits and generates millions of pounds in sales - many of them to firms in the Solent region - is of immense benefit.

"The boat show's international profile is also of huge, unquantifiable value, both to Southampton and to the UK's leisure marine sector."

Tickets for the preview day today are £18 for adults and £10 for children.

During the rest of the event, which runs until September 22, they are £12 and £5 and entry is from 10am to 7pm.

For more details go to www.southamptonboatshow.com

BOAT SHOW FACTS:

The show boasts one of the world's largest purpose-built marinas. It takes about ten weeks to build, with more than two kilometres of pontoons playing host to more than 300 boats.

The annual show costs £2m to stage.

The biggest boat on display is the Sunseeker 95, at just under 29 metres long and takes up to 9,000 gallons of fuel.

The smallest is the JEP Marine, at just two metres.

The most expensive boat at the show is the Sunseeker 94 yacht, at a whopping £3.3m.

Last year 8,000 people tried a boat at the show.

Among the special guests at the event will be celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson, Isle of Wight schoolboy Seb Clover, who sailed across the Atlantic single-handedly earlier this year and Sylvia Cook, the first woman to row the Pacific.

A record 138,000 visitors flocked to 2002's event and organisers are expecting even more at this year's show after record sales of advance tickets.