KEY POINTS:
Chris Dickson makes it all sound so simple. To win the America's Cup he says you need to get to the start line and then cross the finish line five times before the other boat does.
A cup veteran, Dickson has made it to the finals of the
Louis Vuitton Cup twice - in 1987, on New Zealand Challenge, and again in 2003, with Oracle Racing. This time he's hoping to go one step further and put himself in a position where crossing five times ahead of defenders Alinghi will secure for him yachting's greatest prize.
Dickson's American syndicate, BMW Oracle Racing, are well positioned to do so. Headed by software billionaire Larry Ellison, the syndicate will go into the challenger series as favourites, with Emirates Team New Zealand.
The two syndicates have had some titanic battles over the past two years and should they both make it to the Louis Vuitton final, as many predict, then the scene is set for an almighty showdown between two predominantly-Kiwi crews. But there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before that.
And that starts with the first round, where teams square off in two races a day on shorter courses. That means more emphasis on starting well and greater pressure for the helmsman and dependence on slick teamwork.
Dickson says: "All 17 crew on board put the pressure on themselves for each race to do the best they can do in their role - as we all live and die collectively by how we all do our jobs individually.
"I have high expectations of my crew and equally high expectations on my own performance. But this is not a job you prepare for overnight. The helmsman's role is one where experience pays. So you could say I have been in training for this role for more than 20 years."
When asked which helmsman he's expecting to cause him the grief, Dickson answers the "one I am racing on the day".
"We have 10 of the world's top match racers out there in the Louis Vuitton Cup, each with their own style and experience. Each and every one of them is capable of winning a start on any given day."
The challenge for the top teams will be not to slip up in soft races. Being at the top of the table after the round robin is alluring as it allows you to chose your semifinal opponent.
But Dickson disputes there will be any "soft" races. He says the pre-regattas - 13 over the past three years - mean crew work and boat handling has improved in all teams.
"As we have seen in the close racing last year, any of these teams are capable of earning a win - one mistake or equipment failure can open the door."
Dickson says the message he is reinforcing to his team is the need to do the basics well.
"In a long campaign with a big team you could potentially lose sight of the long-term goal of winning the America's Cup. This team has been working hard in all areas of the programme. Now we are all focusing on only what is critical to achieving that goal. It's back to basics, making it simple, using what we have to the best of our ability, racing and winning."
The father of two says he will feel "proud" when he heads out to the race course on day one. If he does manage to get to the start line of the America's Cup and beat the other boat five times - would part of him would feel a bit sad that he wasn't bringing the cup back to New Zealand?
"On the contrary, I guarantee the proud Kiwis in BMW Oracle Racing would take the cup for a visit to New Zealand ... at least for a short period. With great sailing, infrastructure and local support, certainly New Zealand would be a top candidate for one of the lead-up regattas or Louis Vuitton Acts. If we are successful Larry has expressed his desire to stage the defence in the States - but that decision has not been made."Julie Ash
The CV
Born: November 3, 1961, Auckland.
Position: Skipper/helmsman.
America's Cup
* 2007: Skipper and chief executive of BMW Oracle Racing.
* 2003: Skipper of Oracle, which advanced to the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
* 1995: Spearheaded his own campaign, Tag Heuer, a low-budget, one-boat team. Advanced to LV Cup semifinals.
* 1992: Head-hunted by the fledgling Nippon Challenge syndicate to establish, train and prepare a team for Japan's first attempt at the contest. They advanced all the way to the LV semifinals.
* 1986/87: America's Cup debut at age 24 in Fremantle as skipper of New Zealand's first challenge, KZ7.