BMW Oracle Racing chief executive and skipper Chris Dickson is the heavyweight in the qualifying series of the New Zealand Match Racing championships on the Waitemata Harbour this weekend.
Dickson and his Oracle crew of Paul Westlake, Jamie Gale, Robbie Naismith and Kazuhiko Sofuku will compete in the two-day championshipwhich determines who qualifies for the main draw which starts on Thursday.
Cameron Appleton and Graeme Sutherland, both members of the French America's Cup team K-Challenge, are also competing as are Simon Dickey, Jan Dawson and Brian Trubovich.
The six teams will compete in a double round-robin competition. The top four will advance to the main draw, which is headed by defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker and his crew of Terry Hutchinson, Jared Henderson and James Dagg.
The other skippers in the main draw are Tom Powrie, Simon Minoprio, Adam Minoprio and Laurie Jury from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and Takumi Nakamura of the Wakayama Marina City Yacht Club.
Racing in the qualifying series and the main draw starts at 9.30am outside the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
* Entries for the Sir Peter Memorial Torbay Yachting Regatta from December 10-11 close next Friday. Late entries attract a $20 fee. The event will be bigger this year with the inclusion of keel boats.
PAST WINNERS
* 2004 Dean Barker * 2003 Gavin Brady * 2002 Gavin Brady * 2001 Rod Davis * 2000 Rod Davis * 1999 Chris Dickson * 1998 Gavin Brady * 1997 Dean Barker * 1996 Ray M. Davies * 1995 Ray M. Davies * 1994 Tim J. Snedden * 1993 Tim J. Snedden * 1992 Mark Christensen * 1991 Rick Royden
