NZ Match Racing Championships: Teams practice before Thursday's start

Although it's a Grade 3 regatta, the NZ Match Racing Championships present nonetheless great interest. Not only because of the importance of the small island country in professional yacht racing but also due to the presence of two of the world's top sailors.

Chris Dickson, Skipper and CEO of BMW Oracle, and Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand, will certainly offer us a prelude of what is to come in Valencia five months from now when the two America's Cup challengers will start fighting in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand has been training in Auckland since early October with NZL-84 and since the middle of the month with their brand new NZL-92. BMW Oracle arrived in Auckland for the winter period last week and will start training with USA-71 from next week, according to Chris Dickson's announcement this morning. BMW Oracle will present two teams at the NZ Championships, one skippered by Dickson and a second one skippered by Gavin Brady.

Ten NZ teams, consisting of a skipper and four crew members, will sail against each other in two round-robin flights with the four top qualifying for the semi-finals followed by final on Sunday.

One sailor we will be checking is the very young and promising Adam Minoprio. He won the inaugural Asian Match Racing championship last September where he beat Singapore skipper Tan Wearn Haw 5 – 0 in the finals. As a result of his victory, he secured a place in the Monsoon Cup that starts in a week from now in Malaysia, where he will race against sailing heavyweights such as Luna Rossa's James Spithill and Alinghi's Peter Holmberg, among others.

Skipper List
Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info (Emirates Team New Zealand / RNZYS)
Simon Dickey (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle / Golden Gate Yacht Club)
Gavin Brady (BMW Oracle / Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club)
Simon Minoprio (Vision Yachting RNZYS)
Adam Minoprio (Blackmatch RNZYS)
Phil Robertson (RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme)
Scott Dickson (Long Beach Yacht Club)
Graeme Sutherland (Royal Akarana Yacht Club)
Laurie Jury (Vodafone Kiwi Match /RNZYS)

We would like to thank the BMW Oracle Racing blog for providing us with pictures from today's training. Don't forget to check it for regular updates and nice photos from Ivor Wilkins of the NZ Match Racing Championships.

Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady practicing for the NZ Match Racing Championship. Auckland, 22 November 2006. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / BMW Oracle

Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady practicing for the NZ Match Racing Championship. Auckland, 22 November 2006. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / BMW Oracle

The up and coming Adam Minoprio racing to victory against Cameron Dunn in the 2006 Open España. Calpe, 8 September 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing