EVERY year Cowes Week, the world’s biggest and oldest annual regatta, seems to break records and 2005 is no exception, with Britain’s premier sailing festival expected to attract more boats than ever before in its 179-year history.

Staff at the new headquarters of the Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) on Cowes Parade that organises the event were last night preparing for eight days of frenetic activity as Britain’s sailing capital braced itself for an onslaught of more than 1,040 yachts in 38 classes crewed by more than 8,000 food and beer-hungry crews.

Stuart Quarrie, the CCC director, said that 1,033 yachts had registered for competition by yesterday afternoon and he was expecting the total to come close to 1,050 by this morning. This easily surpasses the previous best of 1,002 yachts four years ago, when Cowes Week was followed by the America’s Cup 150th Jubilee Regatta.

Sailing is on a high in this country after successive Olympic Games in which Britain topped the sport’s medal table, while last winter few involved in the sport — or outside it — could have failed to notice the exploits of Dame Ellen MacArthur as she set an heroic solo round-the-world sailing record on board B & Q, inspiring millions along the way.

This is also a Fastnet Race year — the 605-mile biennial classic sets sail from the Solent on August 7, the day after Cowes Week finishes — and the 250-strong entry list has helped to swell the ranks at Cowes. But, even with so positive a background, the growth in participation at the regatta is still phenomenal given that as recently as 1994 there were as few as 750 yachts in only 22 classes taking part.

“It’s really fantastic, it’s just great,” Quarrie said as he supervised last-minute entries yesterday afternoon. “It’s amazing, Cowes is still quiet — we’ve probably got 200 registrations out of the way so far — but it’s the calm before the storm. From late afternoon until tonight it will just get manic.”

Down the high street in Cowes Yacht Haven, the centre of the regatta, staff at the main beer tent were preparing for another epic week, with up to 5,000 customers expected each night and another 5,000 during each day. Chris Troup, who runs the bar, believes he will sell as much drink in one week as an average pub may get through in a whole year. The top seller, he predicts, will once again be the racing sailor’s favourite tipple, Mount Gay Rum with Coke, followed closely by vodka and Red Bull, then Pimm’s and then lager.

“The sport is booming,” Troup said. “It’s partly the Olympic performance. But sailing is also a very good fit for the South East-based young man who wants a bit of a thrill — Cowes Week offers that plus a party scene as well.”

Fittingly in a year dominated by MacArthur, who created arguably the biggest sailing story since Sir Francis Chichester completed his solo circumnavigation in Gipsy Moth IV in 1967, she opened the regatta yesterday from on board Chichester’s newly restored yacht as it docked at the UK Sailing Academy on the banks of the Medina in Cowes.

On the water this year there will be the time-honoured mix of new racing boats and cruiser-racers in the handicap divisions, plus all the classic and modern one-design fleets that make Cowes unique. On Thursday next week a race around the Isle of Wight for Vendée Globe Open 60s is being staged, featuring several of Britain’s top solo sailors, including Mike Golding, Alex Thomson and Conrad Humphreys.

Also taking part, although starting ten minutes after the Open 60s, will be the two biggest yachts sailing at Cowes this year, the 100ft maxis Skandia Wild Thing, from Australia, and ICAP Maximus, from New Zealand, both of which will also compete in the Fastnet.

This year sees the debut of course-setting computer software that should assist race officers in getting the fleets away each day and on time. The programme shows the racing marks on the Solent and predicted wind and tide conditions. It can also predict the estimated time of arrival for class leaders at marks, helping to avoid pile-ups when two fleets descend on the same buoy.

The forecast suggests that Cowes will enjoy light winds and sunny conditions today while much of the country is swept by wet and windy weather. Early next week high pressure spreading north from the Azores should give classic sea-breeze conditions on the Solent.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF COWES

WHERE TO WATCH THE RACING Cowes Green: just along from the Royal Yacht Squadron. Bring sunhat, binoculars. Cowes Parade: busy all week and a wonderful place to watch the nautical world go by. Listen to Cowes Radio, which is broadcast over loudspeakers, calling the starts and finishes and giving you the sailing gossip

WHERE TO PARTY The great unwashed — about 5,000 a night — drink and dance each night away to live bands at Cowes Yacht Haven, where there is also a regatta nightclub at the new Cowes Events Centre. There’s the Charlie Fish Rum Ball in the Jungle on Friday or, if black tie is your preference, then try a yacht club ball. There’s one nearly every night

WHERE TO EAT Cowes is renowned for its second-rate restaurants and during Cowes Week it’s a rugby scrum to get a table. You have to take your chances and prepare to pay a lot and be disappointed

WHERE TO SAIL Cowes Week sponsors Skandia have a free scheme for beginners called “Try Sailing” which is based on Cowes Parade. Sign up and get on the water for an hour with a professional skipper — and get the bug