SUTTON Harbour is preparing for a special visit in a few weeks' time – in the shape of a fleet of yachts.

The picturesque Barbican harbour is set to play host to the finish of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race, a major event within the Plymouth Summer Festival.

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the 300 yachts, crewed by around 2,500 competitors, start out from the Isle of Wight and are expected to set sail for Plymouth on August 9.

The first competitors are due to arrive at Sutton Harbour Marina from Tuesday August 11 and over the following three days the harbour will gradually fill with the rest of the pack.

A race village will provide an excellent opportunity for members of the public to get a close look at the racing yachts and meet some of the crews.

The allure of Rolex Fastnet continues to attract competitors from around the globe and the 2009 race will include sailors from 16 countries.

While the furthest competitors are travelling from Australia, closer to home several teams from Devon will be putting their racing skills to the test.

The line-up of this year's competitors is as spectacular as it is diverse, with a huge spread of boats divided up into eight separate classes from the 100ft performance yachts right down to the smallest 30ft family-owned and crewed cruisers.

Regardless of the sizes of the vessels and experience of the crews taking part, one factor that guarantees to unite all of the competitors will be the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance provided by the challenging course.

Famous faces from the world of sailing will include Alex Thomson in Hugo Boss, Dee Caffari – the first women to sail non-stop around the world in both directions in Aviva – and Katie Miller, the youngest female solo sailor to complete the OSTAR transatlantic challenge.

Mark Brimacombe, Sutton Harbour marina manager, said: "It's a real honour to host the finish of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race.

"The race filled its entry list a full three months ahead of the closing date set in the Notice of Race, which really shows the passion that the sailing world has for the race and the fantastic opportunity it provides for Plymouth to gain exposure on an international stage as a magnificent venue for hosting high-profile sailing events."

Eddie Warden Owen, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's chief executive, said: "We are pleased to be able to bring this prestigious event and one of the world's classic yacht races to the heart of Plymouth.

"Sutton Harbour will provide the perfect venue for the Rolex Fastnet Race finish, allowing visitors to come down and soak up the atmosphere as the yachts arrive throughout the week at the race village.

"With 300 yachts and crews representing 16 countries, this should be a spectacular sight."

For more information on the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race, visit www.fastnet.rorc.org.