PORT Stephens Yacht Club sailors are gearing up for a challenge that only rolls around every two years.
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A team of nine Port Stephens sailors and six supporters from the club will soon head to Bellingham in the United States ahead of the Pacific Rim Yachting Challenge.
The challenge has been held biennially between sister cities in New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Canada, the US and Australia since 1990.
"It's friendly but very competitive," Port Stephens Yacht Club commodore Bill Haskell said.
New Zealand are the current holders of the trophy.
Mr Haskell said Port Stephens should have won the last two regattas, however were pipped at the post.
The Port yacht club, in conjunction with the Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee, has hosted the challenge three times, in 1992, 2000 and 2012.
Haskell said the regatta was "very successful" when it was held in Port Stephens in 2012.
This year teams travel to Bellingham where the first challenge was held.
Greg Busch will skipper a crew on an Etchell class boat.
Bush's crew on the Etchell will be Roger Yeo, Dieter Greiter and Haskell.
On a San Juan 24 class yacht, Craig Tucker will skipper the crew of Dallas Howe, John Grainger and reserve Bill Armstrong.
Ken Buckingham, a member of Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, will join Port Stephens.
Bellingham Yacht Club will supply each class of boat.
A requirement to host the challenge is to provide 12 yachts, six each of two different classes.
Each country will sail on a different boat within their class, to make the competition fair.
Normal regatta rules apply with sailors to complete a course six times and able to drop a race.
The challenge will be held between September 6 and 13.