This year's New Zealand Match Racing Championships won't have the big names associated with the event in the past, but Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker believes the field assembled is the deepest in some time.
The regatta, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, startson the Waitemata Harbour today with a line-up of 11 crews vying for the silverware.
Missing are the likes of Chris Dixon and Gavin Brady, but Barker, who is one of the favourites, said the event was likely to be one of the most-competitive.
"Maybe the names aren't quite as big, but the depth of the field is probably going to be a bit better this year," said Barker, a four-time winner.
He believes several crews have a strong shot at the title, including locals Adam Minoprio and last year's surprise winner, New Zealand Olympic director Rod Davies.
Young-gun skipper Minoprio is regarded as a dark horse after some impressive results on the international match-racing circuit.
But Barker's main competition is expected to come from triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie. Ainslie, the back-up helmsman for Team New Zealand in the 2007 America's Cup, was this month crowned sailor of the year by the international sailing federation (ISAF) for a record third time after defending his Olympic title in the Finn class in Beijing.
Ainslie is the skipper of the fledgling GBR America's Cup team, Team Origin, but during his time at Team New Zealand earned a reputation for his take-no-prisoners approach.
Two female skippers will also take part - Jess Smyth, who will sail an all-women crew, and Jan Dawson. The pair's presence will take on a new interest now that match racing has been added to the women's events for the 2012 Olympics.
THE EVENT
NZ Match Racing Champs, Today-Sunday, Waitemata Harbour
ENTRANTS: * Ben Ainslie
* Dean Barker
* Reuben Corbett
* Rod Davis
* Jan Dawson
* Josh Junior
* Laurie Jury
* Adam Minoprio
* Phil Robertson
* Adrian Short
* Jessica Smyth
