Some of the world’s top international match race teams will descend on Auckland for the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta next month (1-6 March), where a mix of America’s Cup experience will do battle with rising young talent.

Now that the America’s Cup is back in play following the recent Deed of Gift Match in Valencia, top racing skippers are in preparation for a multi-challenger event expected to take place in 2013. Considering that the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta will be followed by the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (where five of the skippers from the Omega regatta will also compete) and the BMW Sailing World Cup Final – there will be plenty for race fans to enjoy over the next few weeks.

Racing for this event will take place in identical Farr-designed MRX yachts and will comprise a double round robin, semi-final and final. The semi-finals and finals will be decided by the first skipper to win three matches.

Skippers who have accepted invitations include:
 
Dean Barker (NZL – Emirates Team New Zealand)
Ben Ainslie (GBR – Team Origin)
Francesco Bruni (ITA – Azzurra Sailing Team)
Sebastian Col (FRA – former Areva Challenge)
Karol Jablonski (POL – former Desafio Espanol)
Magnus Holmberg (SWE – former Victory Challenge)
Chris Dickson (NZL – former BMW ORACLE Racing)
Bertrand Pacé (FRA – former BMW ORACLE Racing)
Adam Minoprio (NZL – BlackMatch Racing)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS – Mirsky Racing Team)

For more, visit the Auckland Festival of Sailing