Last year?s champion and seven-time winner is among a stellar line-up for this year?s edition of the high-profile, match-racing event.

Others slated to participate are the ISAF?s number one skipper, Peter Gilmour of Australia, as well as seeded skippers Ed Baird, Mathieu Richard, Philippe Presti, James Spithill, Dean Barker and Gavin Brady.

Eight unseeded skippers will have the daunting challenge of racing against this list of world-class sailing talent in the hopes of reaching the finals. This field will include the top six of the ISAF Grade 3 qualifying rounds and the winner and runner-up from the ISAF Women?s Match Racing World Championship 2005, to be sailed concurrently with the Gold Cup qualifier event. All of the skippers have a chance at winning the Gold Cup and a share of the $100,000 purse.