By Suzanne McFadden
Barbara Kendall and Aaron McIntosh have a monumental week ahead - to find out if they can defend their world boardsailing titles, and if they are the world's best sailors.
The pair, last year's world Mistral champions, have been nominated for the world yachtsman and yachtswoman of the year
awards, which will be revealed in Sydney on Tuesday.
Neither will be at the awards ceremony. Instead they will be in the sun at Club Med in Noumea, adding the final touches to their build-up to the world championships which begin next Sunday.
Kendall has a strong chance of being crowned the top female sailor of the year. She won her first world Mistral title a year ago and followed it up by defending her pre-Olympic title in Sydney in September, making her favourite for a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics.
Kendall has won all but one regatta she has entered in the last year. Her opponents for the award are world Europe dinghy champion Margriet Matthysse, of Holland, and British world matchracing champion Shirley Robertson.
McIntosh has been nominated for winning his third world title - next week he is aiming for his second successful defence. He is up against Finn stars Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Fredrik Loof, three-time world 49er champ Australian Chris Nicholson and Admiral's Cup skipper Dutchman Roy Heiner.
The New Zealand boardsailors have spent a fortnight in Noumea getting ready for the world championships, which should be a breeze compared to the nightmarish conditions they endured at the pre-Olympics on Sydney Harbour.
With consistent winds, this regatta should be an all-out speed race. New Zealand coach Grant Beck said the Kiwi team had been showing good speed in both heavy and light airs during their build-up. McIntosh, who had a dismal showing at the pre-Olympics, was back to his old form after a break.
