Thursday 4 February 2010

2010 BMW Auckland Regatta

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Now less than a month away, anticipation is building for 2010 BMW Auckland Regatta. Jointly run by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Bucklands Beach Yacht Club the regatta is on from 26th – 28th February.

Top stars are gathering to compete. America’s Cup ace, Chris Dickson, has confirmed he will be joining Jim Farmer’s Georgia crew in the IRC Division of the BMW Auckland Regatta. Dickson is enjoying being back in competitive racing and recently helmed the Australian yacht, Limit, to an across the board win in IRC, General Handicap and PHRF in the Bay of Islands Sailing Week. He will be back with Georgia and racing hard against some of the glamour big boats in the BMW Auckland Regatta.

BMW Auckland Regatta is shaping up well for some thrilling racing to determine who will compete for the BMW Sailing Cup. This year’s event also has special significance given that the winning crew will ultimately represent New Zealand at the BMW Sailing Cup World Final which is being held in New Zealand for the first time, and is the climax of the 2010 Auckland Festival of Sailing.

Seven international crews are set to contest the BMW Sailing Cup World Final (March 22 – 25), though they are rumoured to be wary of any Kiwi crew racing in their ‘familiar environment’. Planning for the event is well advanced, with BMW’s Munich-based events team due to arrive in New Zealand this month.

BMW Auckland Regatta

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