Hopes are growing that Devon will be chosen to host the prestigious Tall Ships golden anniversary race.

Negotiations for the 2006 Tall Ships race are at an advanced stage.

Torbay was the venue for the start of the first race in 1956.

Now business leaders in south Devon believe they are very close to securing the race for that area again.

The ships' crews are from around the world

Gordon Oliver, president of the South Devon chamber of commerce, said he hoped to be able to make a formal announcement in the next few weeks.

"At the moment things look very hopeful indeed," he said.

"Negotiations are very, very promising.

"We have reached agreement on many of the major issues and in the next two or three weeks we will be in negotiation with Torbay Council."

Torbay is confident of getting the race after the success of the Around Alone event in the bay last autumn.

Memorable occasion

Mr Oliver said: "The Tall Ships race will be a memorable occasion.

"Tall Ships racing started in Torbay in 1956, with the first race running from Torbay to Lisbon.

"If negotiations do reach a successful conclusion, there will probably be 26 class A vessels here, which are the very large sailing ships owned by different nations.

"We could be looking at about 100 ships for the race itself."