WITH several thousand boats descending on a small stretch of Southampton Water, the Cowes Week firework display could well be a recipe for disaster.

Everything from small dinghies to luxury powerboats and packed ferries line up to watch the finale to the world's most famous sailing regatta.

Add to that the potentially lethal combination of high spirits and alcohol, and the event is an accident waiting to happen.

Solent Coastguard and Hampshire police admit they have no chance of monitoring every single vessel.

An estimated 170,000 people watched the firework finale on Friday, either bobbing on boats in Southampton Water or from the mainland.

The colourful half-hour display traditionally marks the end of Cowes Week and can be seen from as far as Poole in the west and Chichester in the east.

And when the last firework has gone off, for many sailors it signals the start of a mad race back home.

As thousands of vessels, crammed into an area of water about five miles by nine miles, suddenly up anchor, it is not surprising there are a few incidents.

Today Hampshire police said the majority of sailors had acted responsibly during the busiest evening of Cowes Week.

However, officers were kept busy dealing with a string of incidents caused by a mindless minority.

Sgt Andy Simpson, head of Hampshire police's marine unit, said: "We spoke to probably ten different groups of idiots on boats with no lights.

"It is quite unbelievable that people will even consider taking to these congested waters without lights."