Hundreds of sailors are making plans to set sail on Bob Geldof's "Sail8" flotilla of hope for Africa.

Small boat owners in Sussex say they are keen to sign up to Bob's idea to re-enact the Dunkirk evacuation and raise awareness of poverty in Africa.

Yesterday, as he announced a series of "Live8" concerts across Europe to coincide with the G8 summit of world leaders in Edinburgh, Bob hinted at his plans for the biggest flotilla of small ships since 1940.

He also confirmed he will visit the South Coast next week to talk in detail about Sail8.

Last night, as word of his plans spread among the boating community, clubs and individual owners were discussing ways of getting involved.

Mike Rowbotham, principal and manager of the Arun Yacht Club at Littlehampton, said he thought the idea would capture people's imaginations.

He said: "It will be a big gamble with the weather but I think it's something people will want to be part of."

Tim Leigh, secretary of the Sussex Yacht Club in Shoreham said the idea has been met with interest.

He said: "It's a novel idea and I think there will be a fairly good response."

Boat owner Paul Eddy, of Bates Road, Brighton, said: "I think people will love the idea of sailing to France in an event like this."

Bob contacted The Argus two weeks ago to inform us about his plans for Sail8. He had intended to announce full details at yesterday's London press conference but in a last minute decision, he decided to hold off.

A spokeswoman said: "Bob decided that Sail8 would be swallowed up in the coverage of Live8. It is so important to him that he is now planning to come down to the South Coast and launch Sail8 himself next week."

The former Boomtown Rats frontman is hoping yachtswoman Ellen McArthur will lead thousands of small boats from Dover to Calais on July 3.

At the same time, Hollywood heavyweight John Travolta will lead an airborne transatlantic invasion of small planes from the United States.

Once on British soil, the massed ranks will demand world leaders attending the G8 summit at Gleneagles back the Make Poverty History campaign.

Bob said: "The idea is to get the rich world on the move on behalf of the poor.

"We want to persuade the G8 leaders to live up to their promises and help the most wretched and put-upon people on earth."