FINN world champion Giles Scott is hoping to round off a long 2015 season with a successful title defence at the Finn Gold Cup, which gets underway in Takapuna, New Zealand, on Tuesday.

Scott will be aiming for a third world title to add to his 2014 and 2011 victories, but with national and individual Olympic qualifying berths at stake across the 28 nations set to compete, the Portland-based star knows he’ll face a tough battle if he’s to keep his hands on the coveted Gold Cup when the regatta draws to a close.

Scott’s own 2016 Olympic berth was confirmed in September and the 28-year-old wants to build on his winning run by way of preparation towards the Rio Games.

“The Gold Cup is the event that any Finn sailor wants to win every year and this year is certainly no different, especially being a year out from the Games,” Scott said.

“It will arguably be the strongest fleet of the cycle and will be a very tough-fought week for sure. I’m excited to get the racing underway and hopefully Takapuna can bring some good racing conditions for us.

“There are a couple of very good Kiwis who’ve done an awful lot of sailing at Takapuna, and then there’s a group of 10 or so guys who are certainly capable of winning the week.

“It’ll be incredibly hard fought – no different from any other regatta!”

Scott enjoyed a stint in Auckland in 2013 as part of his America’s Cup spell with Luna Rossa, and he knows to expect anything from the racing conditions at the New Zealand venue.

“I’ve spent a long time sailing out on the race area, but I’ve done very little sailing there in Finns, so that’s a little different,” he added.

“Typically I think it’s offshore, shifty and generally reasonably windy. But it’s a bit like the UK. You can get anything, it just depends what system is coming across. We’re probably expecting a bit of a mixed bag of a week.”

Ten races are scheduled at the Finn Gold Cup from Tuesday to Saturday, with the final medal decider next Sunday.