AFTER months of planning, the first ever Southampton Sailing Week is set to get under way today.

In the first event of its kind in the city’s history, hundreds of ships will cruise Southampton water and the Solent over the next five days to celebrate the importance of sailing to the area.

With parades of sail, music events and luxury yacht experiences, thousands of people from all over the south east are expected to visit the city’s water.

Organiser Chris Rees, of Rees Leisure, said: “Despite this fantastic resource being on our doorstep many people in the city have never had a chance to get out on the water, so creating those opportunities is a big part of Southampton Sailing Week.”

Among the week’s events is a parade of sail taking place on Saturday down the River Itchen from 11am.

The week officially starts with a treasure hunt on the Solent at 8.30 this morning.

A Southampton heritage steamship is also set to feature after a £1.4 million grant programme.

SS Shieldhall is preparing for the 2017 sailing season as her three-year heritage lottery grant programme comes to a conclusion. After refurbishments and maintenance carried out, the ship will be sailing over the late May bank holiday weekend, linking in with sailing week.

The ship is the largest operational, passenger-cargo steam ship in Britain and was constructed in 1955.

Its first sailing voyage will be on Saturday with a cruise towards the Solent between 3pm and 6pm, before staging a cruise around the Southampton docks from 4pm on Sunday.

The following day – Sunday, May 28 – Titanic enthusiasts can board the steam vessel for a three-hour Titanic-themed cruise from 3pm.

Southampton Sailing Week comes to a close on Monday after the Shieldhall finished its Titanic themed voyage.

The official closing party takes place on Oxford Street at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.