Yachting: Barker back to defend match racing title

Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker is back to defend his national match racing yachting title off Auckland this week, but has some tough competition from fellow America's Cup skipper Chris Dickson.

Dickson of BMW Oracle racing and some hot New Zealand match racing talent make for an exciting four-day regatta starting tomorrow.

All 10 skippers will go head-to-head twice in the double round robin, with the top four advancing semifinals and final over the weekend.

Of interest will be the performance of young Aucklanders Simon Minoprio and Laurie Jury, who have spent the last two New Zealand winters competing overseas in match racing events and have climbed to 22nd and 35th respectively in the world rankings.

The winner of the regatta will receive an invitation to compete in the Auckland Match Racing Cup international grade one match racing off Auckland in January.

List of entries:

Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand ), Tom Powrie (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Adam Minoprio (RNZYS), Simon Minoprio (RNZYS), Takumi Nakamura (Japan), Laurie Jury (RNZYS), Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle racing), Cameron Appleton (K Challenge), Simon Dickey (RNZYS), Brian Trubovich (RNZYS)

- NZPA