Two Weeks To The Auckland Match Racing Cup

10 January, 2007

Two Weeks To The Auckland Match Racing Cup

Public's last chance to see skippers in action before the America's Cup

The Auckland Match Racing Cup, the final major yachting regatta on the international sailing calendar before the 2007 America's Cup, starts in just two weeks' time - running from Wednesday, January 24 to Sunday, January 28.

The public will be able to watch the intense quick-fire yacht races featuring ten world-class skippers free-of-charge and just metres from the action by coming down to the Harbour Bridge-end of Westhaven Marina, Auckland.

Attractions will include a purpose-built grandstand, food and drink stalls, free carparking and the opportunity to see some of the world's top sailors competing in this grade-one event including Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand and James Spithill of Italian team Luna Rossa.

Racing starts at 10am each day and features twenty-minute round-robin races and approximately twenty-five races a day.

Semi-finals will take place on Saturday, January 27 and finals will take place on Sunday, January 28. The event has a lucrative $US50,000 prize pool.

Spectators can go to ww.aucklandmatchracingcup.co.nz location details, directions and latest information.

Event organiser, Dave Stewart, said it is the last chance to see team members from two of the teams tipped to win the America's Cup regatta before they compete in Valencia: Dean Barker from Emirates Team New Zealand and James Spithill from Luna Rossa.

"The eyes of the international sailing world will be on Dean Barker and James Spithill and their respective teams. There will be a lot of anticipation and excitement surrounding their races, which will make for a great atmosphere down at Westhaven," he said.

Other skippers competing in the event include: Great Britain's Ian Williams, France's Mathieu Richard, and Kiwi brothers Adam and Simon Minoprio.

Dean Barker, who will skipper the Emirates Team New Zealand boat, said he is looking forward to the upcoming racing.

"It is always fantastic to have the opportunity to race in home waters against some of the best match racers in the world.

"The event itself is a great competition and this year it is particularly significant as it is the perfect opportunity before the America's Cup to check how some of the competition is developing," he said.

Mayor of Auckland City, Dick Hubbard, said the event is an annual highlight of Auckland's event calendar bringing lasting economic benefits to the area.

"Events like this are important for Auckland as part of establishing ourselves as a world-class city - these events in turn bring revenue to the whole of Auckland through people coming from around the world to be part of the yachting event," he said.

The public will also have the chance to see Barker, Spithill and all the other world-class skippers at the closing ceremony outside Soul Bar on the Viaduct around 3pm when the winner sails in after the final race on Sunday, January 28.

ENDS

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