Three Tauranga sailors are contending with a strong international field at the Laser nationals being sailed in Nelson this week.

Thomas Saunders, Sam Meech and Trent Rippey are looking to hold off the country's top laser sailors and a group of overseas sailors from Oman and the Netherlands. In addition to the sailing Thomas and Sam are running coaching clinics.

Trent, who recently returned from the Oman Youth Worlds is competing in the Laser Radial.

And after the Nelson nationals the laser sailors will be heading for Auckland in early February for the Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta.

At Sail Auckland, New Zealand's top sailors will racing top international competitors from Australia, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Singapore, the Netherlands and Korea, in the 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland men's single-handed Laser event.

The Nationals and Sail Auckland have also attracted some of the Laser class top international competitors.

Rutger Van Schaardenburg from the Netherlands placed 4th at the 2013 Laser World Championships last November in Oman. Nicolas Heiner, also from the Netherlands, will be in town for the regatta and so will Sweden's Jesper Stelheim.

The 2014 Laser National Championships are on in Nelson until Sunday. Sail Auckland racing starts on Waitemata Harbour on Saturday 1st February and runs for four days with prize-giving to follow racing on Tuesday 4th February. Royal Akarana Yacht Club is hosting 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland.

All Olympic and Paralympic class boats are invited to take part: The Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 470 Men, 470 Women, 49er, 49er FX, RS:X 8.5, RS:X 9.5, Nacra 17, Skud 18, 2.4mR and also other classes are encouraged: the OK Dinghy, 29er, 420, Liberty, Hansa 303, Kiteboards, F18 and A Class Catamaran.

Over four days of racing 11-15 races will take place for each fleet, and the format for all classes will be fleet racing with no medal race. All racing will take place in the Waitemata Harbour, in the surrounds of Rangitoto Island, North Head, Mechanics Bay and Browns Island.