Dean Barker will seek to extend his record to five yachting titles at the New Zealand match racing championship starting off Auckland tomorrow.
Barker is the only skipper to have won the crown four times, claiming his first in 1997 and emerging victorious in each of the lastthree editions.
Also in the 12-strong field on Waitemata Harbour will be Chris Dickson, the 1999 champion who will helm an inexperienced crew all aged under 20.
Rod Davis, winner in 2000 and 2001, is back with his Team New Zealand crew of Tony Rae, Chris Ward, Grant Loretz and Richard Meacham.
The four-day championship run by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has attracted two female skippers, Yachting New Zealand president Jan Dawson and youth programme graduate Jessica Smyth.
While Dawson will be sailing with an all-male crew Smyth has a young all-female crew onboard.
Entry list Dean Barker (Team New Zealand), Laurie Jury (Kiwi Match), Adam Minoprio (Blackmatch), Chris Dickson (RNZYS), Rod Davis (Team New Zealand), Phil Robertson (RNZYS), Simon Dickey (RNZYS), Michael Thorpe (RNZYS), David Wood (RNZYS), Jonathan Rankine (RNZYS), Jessica Smyth (Georgia Racing), Jan Dawson (RNZYS)
