Photo below is courtesy of our old friend and NZL-based yachting journalist Richard Gladwell. He took it during last weekend's qualifying regatta, won by Dicko & Co., for the NZ national match racing championship that begins in Auckland today.

Richard writes:

Here is a shot for you from the first day [of the qualifying regatta]. 1996 is Chris Dickson, 1994 is Tom Powrie – the top sailor from the RNZYS Youth program. The crew in the background is Adam Minioprio another Youth Program skipper. Maybe people will now understand why there are so many good Kiwi match racers. Where else in the world would you get guys that are either still in high school, or just out of it coming up against America’s Cup sailors like Appleton, Barker and Dickson -- and in a serious regatta?

Indeed. And not just match racers. Thanks, Richard.

NZL's new generation, just out of high school, get a PhD course in
match racing.