On the long road to the America’s Cup 2007 in Europe, Oracle BMW Racing continues to collect valuable match racing experience, with the next stop the Nippon Cup in Japan. Led by helmsman Gavin Brady, the Oracle BMW Racing team with John Kostecki, Ross Halcrow and Dirk de Ridder will line up in the third event on the Swedish Match Tour, racing on Hayama’s Shinjuku Bay (near Tokyo) from 19-23 November.

Since Oracle BMW Racing’s recent victory over Alinghi in the Moët Cup in San Francisco, the sailing team’s focus has turned to the Swedish Match Tour, a nine-regatta international circuit which draws the best match racing sailors in the world. Oracle BMW Racing CEO Chris Dickson is optimistic about the upcoming challenge at Shinjuku Bay. “In the Nippon Cup we will be competing against some of the most skilled and experienced sailors in the world. With these competitors, reaching the final once again will be hard work,” Dickson said.

The format features 12 teams – nine international skippers and the three top Japanese teams – competing in a single round robin, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The final is a first-to-three match. Among the fleet is Australian Peter Gilmour, who narrowly edged out Oracle BMW Racing in the final of the Bermuda Gold Cup last month and leads the Swedish Match Tour. Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, Italian America’s Cup helmsman Paolo Cian, former Swedish Match Tour No 1 Magnus Holmberg and Danish match racer Jesper Radich will also compete.