The countdown to the 2014 A Class Catamaran World Championships has begun with some of the globe's best sailors confirming their entry into the event, including six members of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Taking place from February 5-16, 2014, off Takapuna Beach, on Auckland's Northshore, The Emirates Team New Zealand competitors will feel at home with the site being their testing ground during the 34th America's Cup campaign.

World-class sailing like this can be viewed from Takapuna Beach early next year.
Photo by Sailing Aarhus.

Multi-hull specialist Glenn Ashby, who is part of the Emirates' team, is in his second season for Team New Zealand and has won 14 world championships across three multi-hull classes.

Glenn says he's looking forward to racing in off the Northshore once again. 'Takapuna is the perfect sailing ground for the A-Class; it provides a fantastic variety of sailing, where the weather just lends itself to competing.”

'There will be a very high standard of competitors from America's Cup, Olympic Sailing and the top players in the A-Class Catamaran class,” says Glenn. 'I think the top 15 to 20 hotly talented guys will enjoy fighting it out on the water.”

Organisers are expecting to see more than 85 catamarans competing. Teenagers through to elderly have confirmed their entries, as well as seasoned sailors.

Sixty-five confirmed entries has competitors coming from 10 different nations, including Australia, Britain, USA, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

There will be two races each afternoon during the 12-day event, with plenty of free viewing for the public. The Takapuna seawall will be a good viewing point, as will the walkway from Takapuna to Milford Beach.