TWO cruise ships will visit Cowes Week for next week's racing.

First to call in will be the returning Tradewind Voyages’ Golden Horizon on August 1 – the largest square-rigged sailing ship in the world.

Golden Horizon will offer voyages with unique sustainability credentials when it sails east from September.

The five-masted sailing cruise ship is 524 feet (162 metres) long and carries up to 272 passengers in luxurious accommodation with 159 crew.

Following her on August 4 will be Fred. Olsen’s Borealis - the group's new ship, anchoring in the Solent on its inaugural season.

Cowes Harbour Commission is actively increasing the number of ships visiting the town in the coming years. 

The Commission is aiming to raise the profile and increase the interest in Cowes as a year-round global destination.