MORE than 300 yachts will converge in the Solent tomorrow for the start of one of the world's most famous yacht races.

At 10am the starting canon will be fired from Cowes' Royal Yacht Squadron, marking the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Many of the entrants are already in the Solent having taken part in Skandia Cowes Week, used as a tune-up by some for the 608-nautical mile race.

Inevitably some of the biggest names in sailing are taking part, including Hampshire's own Dee Caffari on Aviva and Alex Thompson on his newly built Hugo Boss.

Other top stars sailing in the race include Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent, joining Caffari onboard Aviva.

The event is considered a true bluewater ocean race, and to compete in this race is a goal for many sailors.

The race is held every two years since the early 1930s, and this year's event is the 42nd.

Making their way through a myriad of spectator boats, hundreds of teams from across the world including dozens from Hampshire will race west out of the Solent from Cowes along the south coast of England.

After rounding Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland and back across the finishing line in Plymouth.

This year's event sees the largest fleet since the notorious 1979 race, which saw storms ravage the fleet leaving 17 sailors dead.

The Rolex Fastnet Race website is now online at http://fastnet.rorc.org and, during the race spectators will be able to track the positions of the 300-boat fleet, courtesy of the OC Tracker units that the event has provided to each yacht.

The first signal for the start of the race will sound at 9.50am tomorrow.

A race and weather briefing is being held at 4pm this afternoon at the Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre.