Match Race Sailors to Compete for World Title Starting Today

Echoes of the America’s Cup are faint as 10 of the world’s best sailors return to basics today in the Mazda World Championship of Match Race Sailing off Long Beach.

The six-day event is for the top 10 sailors, based on International Yacht Racing Union rankings from the last three years. Three, including No. 8 Rod Davis, New Zealand’s skipper in the America’s Cup trials and Olympic Star class silver medalist, declined and were replaced by the next three.

Dennis Conner match races infrequently and ranks only 23rd. America 3 skipper Bill Koch isn’t ranked at all, officials choosing instead to recognize helmsman Buddy Melges’ efforts in winning the America’s Cup. Melges is 35th.

The field, in order of current rankings: 1. Chris Dickson, New Zealand; 2. Peter Isler, San Diego; 3. Russell Coutts, New Zealand; 4. Eddie Warden-Owen, Wales; 5. Paul Cayard, San Diego; 6. Peter Gilmour, Australia; 7. Ed Baird, St. Petersbrug, Fla.; 11. Roy Heiner, The Netherlands; 12. Chris Law, Great Britain; 13. Kevin Mahaney, Bangor, Me.

Dickson, who has won three of the four previous titles plus two Congressional Cups in these waters, is sailing as a Kiwi again after skippering the Nippon Challenge at San Diego. Cayard steered Il Moro di Venezia into the America’s Cup match before losing to America 3.

Using a compact windward-leeward course visible from East Ocean Boulevard, they will race a double-round robin of 90 races through Friday. The top four will sail best-of-three semifinals Saturday, followed by the best-of-five final Sunday. First prize is $32,000 from a $135,000 purse.