Dartmouth is about to cash in on its second yachting coup of the year as hundreds of sailors turn up in the town for yet another major sailing event.

The huge international J80 World Sailing Championships earlier this month was a first for the port and is believed to have bought up to £500,000 in extra cash pouring into the town.

Now Dartmouth is about to host the 42nd Squib National Championships for the first time as scores of sailors take part in the racing – and bring their families along to watch.

Self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation in Dartmouth is virtually booked up completely for the week of the races which will be taking place from July 7 to July 13.

Business forum chairman Paul Reach predicted the event will bring a cash bonus for accommodation providers, restaurants and pubs.

'It's fantastic for the town,' he said, adding that the town's retailers would also gain from the event to a certain extent as well.

The J80 championships – which brought 76 national and international crews to the town – have put Dartmouth in front line of national venues for major sailing events after impressing the organisers with its welcome and support. So much so that South Hams Council and Dart Harbour are planning to hold talks to look at way to promote the town as a premier international sailing venue.

The Squib championship is being hosted by Kingswear's Royal Dart Yacht Club and involve six days of racing in Start Bay.

The national championships are hosted by a different UK yacht club every year and this is the first time the racing has come to Dartmouth.

The Squib South Coast Championship was held at the Royal Dart Yacht Club last September and involved 38 boats racing over two days.

Next month more than double that number of boats will be taking part in six days of racing from Sunday, July 8, to Friday, July 12.

The yacht club is predicting that up to 200 crew members could be arriving in the town – many of them with their families.

'This is the biggest national championship that the club has hosted,' said Peter Johnson, Royal Dart Yacht Club squib captain.

'We are hoping to have about 100 boats lining up at the start line out in Start Bay – it will be a spectacular sight.'