Next week sees the start of racing of the J24 National Championships in Falmouth Bay and the local fleet are gearing themselves up for some fiercely competitive sailing.

One of the largest fleets in the port for some years and with 11 local entries so far, Falmouth's J24 Class Association are expecting big things on their own territory.

The J24 is an ideal one design boat for competitive racing, it being highly responsive and with little room for error, it has attracted the world's top sailors over many years.

This is yet another championship event hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, which not only organises the race management, calling on many volunteers from the club, but also plays host to the social programme devised for the all important 'apres sailing' activities.

John Peters, local class captain, said: "It's very exciting, there are nearly 40 entries in total, coming from all over the UK, and we look forward to very competitive racing over five days, starting on Monday."

The fleet will be berthed at the Port Pendennis Marina for the week after being craned into the water from County Wharf in the Docks on Sunday.

Pendennis Point, Cliff Road and St. Antony's headland will all be good spectator points from ashore.