The list of participants looks like the ‘Who is Who’ of professional international sailing. The stage is set for fierce competition for Chris Dickson and his team at the King Edward VII Gold Cup from October 15-23, 2005, in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda.

In a regatta featuring many of the world’s best match racing skippers, the New Zealand-born CEO and Skipper of BMW Oracle Racing will count on the support of Kazuhiko Sofuku, Paul Westlake and Zach Hurst. The foursome is competing following a successful performance as part of the BMW Oracle Racing Team at the Trapani Louis Vuitton Acts in Sicily where they finished the America’s Cup Class racing season as one of the top Challengers.

“The Gold Cup is a personal favourite of mine,” Dickson said in preparation for Bermuda. “The racing conditions on Hamilton Harbour make it one of the best sailing venues in the world. This regatta has always attracted the best match racers so it’s a must to have on the calendar in October. Bermuda starts a busy match racing schedule as we prepare for our 2006 racing season. We will be out match racing every chance we get.”

Dickson placed second the last two times he competed in the Gold Cup. The line-up of competitors also includes Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird, James Spithill of Luna Rossa, Karol Jablonski of the Spanish Team Desafio Espanol and three-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts as well as Scott Dickson (Chris’ youngest brother). The King Edward VII Gold Cup, which dates back to 1907, is the oldest match racing trophy for one-design yachts worldwide. This year, the total prize money at stake amounts to 100,000 US Dollars – the new champion will be awarded 30,000 US Dollars.