A giant inflatable octopus and two jazzmen performing the Sailor's Hornpipe aboard a historic tall ship have launched a spectacular week of fun as part of the Plymouth Summer Festival.

The Barbican is hosting two colourful and exciting events this week: the run-up to the Artemis Transat 2008 single handed trans-Atlantic yacht race and the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival.  The themes were combined on Saturday after Councillor Glenn Jordan and Nigel Godefroy, or main sponsor the Sutton Harbour Group, officially opened the Transat Village in Sutton Harbour.

Mr. Godefroy said local people and visitors would have the chance to enjoy the excitement and colour of the race preparations, with state-of-the-art yachts already arriving for the start of the race of May 11.

Trumpeter Ian Pettit and tenor sax player George Comer then took to the poop-deck of three-mastered barque the Earl of Pembroke to charm the crowds already gathering to enjoy some spectacular sailing vessels.

There was plenty to see and do, including free tours of the ship, brightly coloured race yachts to admore at close quarters and information panels about the history of the race lining the quays.

Visitors also enjoyed a hospitality area and a marquee with a host of maritime displays.  Later in the day, the music got under way in the sunshine, with performances by singer Louise Park and L'Orchestra Totnes, a 15-piece big band.

The festival includes an array of local, national and international talent and a wide variety of music at venues around the Barbican during the daytime and evenings, much of it free.

Highlights include:

The Dixie Blue Band, a New Orleans-style jazz band from France parading around the Barbican from noon today.

Boogie-woogie man Diz Watson attempted a 'piano-crawl' around the keyboards of the Barbican's pubs and private homes.

New Orleans marching jazz band Jambalaya touring the Barbican from 3pm next Saturday and Sunday - and inviting the public to bring along their jazz umbrellas and join in.