The theme for the 4th St. Moritz Match Race regattta is "The America's Cup as guest in the mountains" since 8 of 14 starting spots are filled with America's Cup teams... and the field of competitors is still counting.

This year the St. Moritz Match Race is as well represented as it has ever been and entrants so far include six teams from the America’s Cup who are sending their skippers and crew to compete in the Swiss mountains between the 15th to the 20th of August 2006.

Cup defender Alinghi is sending all three of their helmsmen, Jochen Schümann, Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg.

The Italian Luna Rossa Challenge is sending helmsman Philippe Presti, Mascalzone Latino Capitalia, also from Italy, is sending Flavio Favini.

The French Areva Challenge is sending their afterguard Sébastien Col, and the South African Team Shosholoza will be sending Ian Ainslie.

As well as the stars attending from the America’s Cup, Mark Mendelblatt, twice winner of the St. Moritz Match Race, will be competing as will Australian Peter Gilmour, ranked No 1 on the World Match Racing list.

Against such well-known names as these, two local Swiss teams will enter the fray, with Arnaud Psarofaghis from Geneva and Eric Monnin from Immensee also competing.

Both have qualified through the Swiss Match Race Championship for the event, and while Monnin has previously competed in St. Moritz, this will be the first time for 17-year-old Psarofaghis.

Concurrents

Ian Ainslie (RSA, Team Shosholoza)
Ed Baird (USA, Alinghi)
Paolo Cian (ITA, Team Shosholoza)
Sébastien Col (FRA, Areva Challenge)
Flavio Favini (ITA, Mascalzone Latino)
Peter Gilmour (AUS)
Peter Holmberg (ISV, Alinghi)
Mark Mendelblatt (USA)
Eric Monnin (SUI)
Phillippe Presti (FRA, Luna Rossa Challenge)
Arnaud Psarophagis (SUI)
Jochen Schuemann (GER, Alinghi)
Wearn Haw Tan (CHN)
Ian Williams (GBR)