Kiwi sailing team test the waters in Rio

Molly Meech, right, and Alexandra Maloney will sail the 49erFX at the 2015 Rio test event. Photo / File

With racing at the 2015 Rio Test Event just over a week away, Guanabara Bay in Rio is coming alive with Olympic class action as the world's best sailors prepare for one of this year's pinnacle events.

It is a year until the opening of the 2016 Olympic Games and, significantly, seven NZL Sailing Team crews are in Rio, in the final countdown to a dress rehearsal regatta.

The 2015 Rio Test Event is as close as it gets to the real thing, mimicking the format and fleet quotas prescribed for the Olympic Games. One year out, it provides the opportunity to put team planning and preparation to the test, and for sailors and coaches to learn even more about the venue and how they are tracking compared to their competitors.

Jo Aleh, helm of New Zealand's Women's 470 entry, is already familiar with the venue.

"Rio really is a rather amazing place and it's great to be back. It's such an interesting place to sail, with a variety of conditions and a truly incredible skyline. It's also rather warm, which is a big bonus for sailing."

Aleh and Powrie start racing on August 16 and Aleh outlined what was happening in Rio this week. "We have a warm up regatta over four days as a chance to line up against most of the top teams and just sort of check in. We will try out a few things and make sure the boat is all working as it should,"

"We want to make sure we are feeling good in the boat, and then have a bit of a break to freshen up before the actual Rio Test Event. Next week, when we all start moving to the Marina da Gloria - the Olympic Harbour - things will start to ratchet up a little."

The NZL Sailing team for Rio test event:

(Tauranga sailors highlighted)

Laser (Men's single-handed dinghy): Andy Maloney.
49er (Men's skiff): Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
49erFX (Women's skiff): Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech.
Women's 470 (Women's double-handed dinghy): Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie.
Men's 470 (Men's double-handed dinghy): Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox.
Nacra 17 (Mixed multihull): Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders.
Finn (Men's heavyweight dinghy): Josh Junior.