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Plymouth businesses have been invited to a virtual meeting hosted by the boss of a major sailing event predicted to bring an £18millon boost to the city’s economy in mid 2021.

Plymouth, known as Britain’s Ocean City, has been selected to stage SailGP, described as “one of the world’s most impressive sailing events”, on July 17 and 18.

It has been estimated that SailGP, being billed as part of the postponed Mayflower 400 commemoration, could bring an £18million boost to the Covid-hit city.

Now, SailGP chief executive Sir Russell Coutts will address the city’s business at a virtual event to discuss the forthcoming Great Britain Grand Prix.

The online forum is designed to brief businesses on the event and provide a unique insight into SailGP – the sports pinnacle league. Plymouth will host the third event in the global league’s calendar with racing taking place in Plymouth Sound.

SailGP features eight national teams made up of the sport’s best athletes – including Great Britain’s Sir Ben Ainslie – battling it out on identical, supercharged F50 catamarans that have been engineered for intense racing at electrifying speeds. The event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Mr Coutts, five-time America’s Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist, will helm the online event will be held on February 22 at 6.30pm.

About 1,300 businesses in Plymouth’s city centre and waterfront areas have been written to by the City Centre Company and Destination Plymouth, which run the city’s two business improvement districts, urging them to register by February 19 at 9am by clicking .