Yachting: Dickson has lofty ambitions

Former BMW Oracle Skipper Chris Dickson talks to the media. Photo / Richard Robinson

Despite cutting it fine with their preparation, former America's skipper Chris Dickson has high hopes Evolution Sails Limit will have a strong showing in the Coastal Classic.

The Reichel-Pugh 62, owned by Australian Alan Brierty, is one of the top keelboats in the fleet.

With size on its side, Limit is highly favoured to take overall line honours in the monohull contingent, but will face stiff competition from 2006 winner Wired, and Ran Tan II - a 50ft Greg Elliot design.

Then there is the small matter of the boat being ready on time.

Limit competed in the Pacific Cup (San Francisco to Hawaii) a few months back, then did the delivery trip from Hawaii back to Auckland, where it has undergone a refit in preparation for a big summer of racing.

The team are using the iconic Labour Weekend race as part of their preparation for the Sydney to Hobart at the end of the year.

But with the boat having only just got back in the water after undergoing some cosmetic changes and system modifications, the crew have been left with little time to prepare for the Coastal Classic.

"This is the first and the last training run," Dickson said as his team were about to dock out on Wednesday.

"She's had a little bit of a re-paint and a bit of a tidy-up, but hasn't been sailing since. The last race she did was several months ago and she hasn't been in the water for well over a month."

"So we're busy putting all the pieces back together and we'll go out for a training sail this evening just to make sure everything's working, and we hope we'll be ready for racing on Friday."

Still, that hasn't dented Dickson's optimism that the grand prix keelboat will perform well.

He believes Limit is a definite contender for line honours.

"The boat's a very, very competitive boat. It's well-campaigned, it's well-maintained. Alan Brierty the owner spares nothing when it comes to the boat, we've got excellent sails and equipment and a high-quality crew and we'll be very competitive. We'll be aiming to take line honours."

Boat manager Rodney Keenan is also talking up Limit's capabilities.

"If conditions are heavy there is a very small chance we could break Alfa Romeo's record from last year," he said.

Dickson will be one of several notable Kiwi sailors aboard Limit in today's drag race up the coast. America's Cup sailor Gavin Brady will add further experience and tactical nous, while 17-year-old Chris Steele, a two-time world optimist champion, will get the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business.

There is also a strong international contingent in the crew, with five Australians and two Americans.

Surprisingly, this year's Classic will be only the second time Dickson has competed in the race, after taking part for the first time in 2009 aboard Jim Farmer's IRC-52.

He was also an unofficial entry in 2000, using the race as part of preparations for the Sydney Olympics in the tornado class.

"I'm probably like a few Kiwis - we ply the world for decades doing the top international regattas, but have never done the Coastal Classic," said Dickson.

After getting his first proper taste of the iconic race in 2009, Dickson said he is hooked.

"We had a fantastic time last year; there was no cloud; it was just a beautiful day to sail up the coast. The coastline between Auckland and Cape Brett is one of the prettiest in the world, I think."