IT will be the biggest party the city has seen in years.

Today a ten-strong fleet of yachts competing in the famed Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race will slip into Southampton.

The sleek 60ft boats will moor at Ocean Village, which will play host to a three-day free entertainment extravaganza celebrating the start of the epic 40,000 mile global circumnavigation.

This will climax with the departure of the yachts on Sunday.

Helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious and one of the largest spectator flotillas the county has seen in the past decade will follow them.

A race village has been constructed at Ocean Village marina featuring a main music stage with headliners including girl band Parade, indie band Toploader and Southampton rockers Delays all performing over the weekend.

Lining the quayside will be acrobats, fire-eaters, dancers and pirate warships plus lashings of food and drink.

The festival bursts into action with the arrival of the Clipper fleet at 5.30pm today with the Vox Pop Choir headlining on the main stage. But the day starts with a yacht naming ceremony before a host of top live acts take to the stage. By Saturday the festivities will be in full swing with fireworks celebrating the eve of the race.

The festival culminates in an emotional departure ceremony followed by the traditional fleet blessing. A spectacular “parade of sails” follows as the Clipper yachts leave on their epic voyage. Forming an arrow formation the fleet will be followed by the imposing helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious and a flotilla of spectator boats expected to be up to 300 strong. The flotilla will sail out of Southampton Water at 1.30pm towards the historic Royal Yacht Squadron line ready for the off. Boat owners are encouraged to take part and charted ferries for spectators will be leaving from Ocean Village marina and Town Quay.

The event, the first of its kind in ten years, is expected to land the city an economic windfall of £10 million.