OLYMPIC hopefuls will sail alongside thousands of boats of all shapes and sizes tomorrow when the Isle of Wight Round the Island Race returns.

Rio 2016 hopefuls Giles Scott and London 2012 silver medallist Hannah Mills of the British Sailing Team will be on the water alongside around 16,000 sailors as the iconic 50 nautical mile challenge returns to Hampshire’s waters.

Yachts from the globe over have gathered in Cowes ahead of the race’s start tomorrow at 7am, which is the UK’s fourth-biggest participation event.

Scott and Mills, both of whom are based in Weymouth, will be on board the IMOCA 60 JP Morgan Asset Management Rosalba for the Isle Sailing Club organised competition, which is among the most iconic sporting events on the planet.

“I am really excited to go round the island again,” said Mills.

“I would like to beat my previous time of five and a half hours from a couple of years ago when I went round in a Farr 45. I think I’m going to let Giles do the skippering and I will be navigator.”

Scott has gone unbeaten in the Finn Class for more than 18 months and, along with Mills, won a gold medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth.

Meanwhile, the question on everyone’s lips is whether there will be a repeat of last year’s windless conditions.

Last year saw many yachts retire after floating at almost a standstill for hours.

Indeed, there is some promise. The latest weather reports suggest that the windiest areas will be near the Needles and around St Catherine’s point.

The wind is expected to stay moderate to strong through the western and central Solent.

With racing getting started at 7am, the firing of the gun to mark the beginning will be performed by Isle of Wight resident Natasha Lambert, a disabled sailor who has athertoid cerebral palsy.

Olympic sailing gold medallist Helena Lucas MBE will present the awards at the prize-giving on Sunday.