Two Bay of Plenty sailors are among the 13-strong New Zealand team preparing to compete at the Weymouth and Portland 2011 International Regatta starting Thursday.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. Photo: Delta Lloyd.

Peter Burling again pairs with Blair Tuke in the 49er class and Jason Saunders is teaming with Paul Snow-Hansen in the men's 470.

The event is an important one on the calendar as it is being raced at the 2012 London Olympics venue.

The Laser, Radial and 470 fleets start their regatta on Friday, while the 49er, Finn and Star fleets begin Saturday. Medal races are staggered over three days from Thursday, August 11.

'This preparation phase in Weymouth has been about coming together as a team, settling in and ensuring that we have everything in place to hit the water well prepared,” says Yachting New Zealand Olympic programme manager and team director Jez Fanstone.

'Now we're ready to get sailing,” he says, 'our sailors are keen to get down to business, to see where they measure up against their rivals and to learn more about what this race track can throw at us.”

Just one entry from New Zealand in each of the classes is possible with these team members earning their selection through performance at key international regattas.

The NZL Sailing Team:

Laser: Andrew Murdoch
Laser Radial: Sara Winther
Women's 470: Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie
Men's 470: Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders
Star: Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk
Finn: Dan Slater
49er: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
Men's RS:X: Jon-Paul Tobin
Women's RS:X: Natalia Kosinska