By Richard Simmonds BBC Sport's sailing commentator

Cowes Week runs from 3-10 August

Everyone has heard of Cowes Week.

After all it is part of 'the season', alongside the Henley Regatta and Royal Ascot, an historic must-be-seen-at event.

If you visit the right places, tradition and formality will overflow.

Yet there is an increasingly broad base to the famous week, which has become Great Britain's second largest participation sporting event.

Cowes has moved up several gears both in the quality of race management and the apres-sail on offer.

After racing on each of the eight days, the sailors spill off their boats and into Cowes Yacht Haven and the proliferation of yacht clubs and bars.

Here blue chip company chairman mix with those who drive themselves to work, bonded by common interest.

Most wear the Solent uniform.

You can fall out of Cowes Yacht Haven onto the High Street and there will be more shops offering rugby shirts and deck shoes than any British city centre.

Finding a pint of milk may take a little longer.

There will be around 1,000 boats - from one hundred foot super yachts stacked with the latest technology to open day boats.

Compare this to a motor sport event with Formula One cars, touring cars and classics all competing.

With 'all makes' comes 'all abilities' - from family sailors and those new to racing to Olympic and America's Cup sailors.

Thousands come to be part of the scene and to watch.

Sitting on the velvet lawn of Cowes Green, watching the fleets start from the Royal Yacht Squadron is a spectacular sight and often delivers a fair share of excitement.

The temptation for skippers to avoid a foul tide and sail close to shore is great, and there are potentially expensive traps to snare the unaware or the bullish.

Skippers push the limits to win, and there are historic trophies to be raced for, but, above all, Skandia Life Cowes Week will be enjoyed.

And in a world where it is increasingly rare to see a smile at the highest level in sport, that should be reason for celebration.