The world's sailing hotspots of San Diego, Hauraki Gulf and Rhode Island will be desolate this weekend as all eyes turn to Cowes for the start of the America's Cup Jubilee.

Never in the history of yacht racing has there been such an awesome collection of boats, owners and crews in one stretch of water.

Royalty and wealth apart, The Solent will provide a glamorous stage for sailing honours to settle rivalries past, present and future.

While the America's Cup syndicates battle with each other for the psychological advantage ahead of the 2003 event, the three J-class yachts, Velsheda, Endeavour and Shamrock V will be fighting to prove which of the magnificent 1930s-built machines is the greatest of them all.

In the historic class, there will be the 130-foot schooner America, a replica of the original winner of the 1851 race around the Isle of Wight, to draw the crowds in the Western Solent.

The elegant 12-metre yachts, many of which arrived in the Solent from New York on Wednesday, will be thrilling spectators with their low hulls and billowing sails in the waters to the east of the island shores.

Among them will be Australia II, which seized the America's Cup away from the Americans for the first time in 1983, and former British contender Crusader, now owned by Richard Matthews, the man behind one of Britain's leading boatbuilders Oyster.

All the big names in world yachting will be there. American legend Dennis Connor, Kiwi icon Sir Peter Blake and Australian hero Alan Bond are involved with their national challengers.

British legends, too, will be out in force.

Lawrie Smith will be helming the modern 140-foot ketch Rebecca after a three-year break from racing, and crewmembers from his various Whitbread and America's Cup campaigns will be sprinkled throughout the 250-strong fleet. For example, Hamble's Paul Standbridge on Gianni Agnelli's super maxi Stealth.

Racing starts on Sunday morning and continues through the week, culminating in the final race next Saturday and a glittering prizegiving ceremony the following day.

The climax race, the eastabout round the island race, following the course taken by a 15-strong fleet 150 years ago, will be staged on Tuesday featuring 203 yachts.

They will compete for a new trophy, presented to the Royal Yacht Squad-ron by Benzie, the Cowes jewellers.