| Revision as of 19:57, 6 July 2007 edit131.111.8.104 (talk) additional information on Barker re. 2004 Olympics← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:06, 6 July 2007 edit undoLgask (talk | contribs)29 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''Dean Barker''' is an ] ], having helmed ] in various campaigns. | '''Dean Barker''' is an ] ], having helmed ] in various campaigns. | ||
| Barker sailed from an early age, starting out in ] and ] boats, before graduating to ]s and ]s. He unsuccessfully trialed for the 1996 Olympic ] team |
Barker sailed from an early age, starting out in ] and ] boats, before graduating to ]s and ]s. He unsuccessfully trialed for the 1996 Olympic ] team. | ||
| the 2004 Olympics after just a few months back in the Finn. | |||
| Barker has had mixed success in the sport of yachting. He is considered to lack the intelligence and intellect of ] (a trained ]). In the 2003 Americas Cup, the Coutts skippered Swiss boat ] defeated Barker and ] in a 5-0 series whitewash. | |||
| In the 2007 Americas Cup series in ], ], Barker clearly showed he was not at the top level of international yachtsmen. ], of which he was the skipper, went down decisively 5-2 to the Swiss boat Alinghi, led by fellow New Zealander ]. Barker was clearly outmanoeuvred by Butterworth in all of the five races won by Alinghi. <ref>http://www.590klbj.com/news/article.aspx?id=1165515</ref> Thus a series that many experts believed should have been won by Emirates Team New Zealand, ended up being markedly one-sided. Barker was criticised by some New Zealand fans for a "lack of coolness under pressure."<ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501154&objectid=10449843</ref> | |||
| Some of Barker's poor decision making and lack of guile have been attributed to a privileged upbringing. His father is the well-known New Zealand multi-millionaire ] of the ] retail chain. Childhood friend ] said of Barker; "the biggest thing he probably had over me was financial support. He could study, and sail at the same level as myself, while I had to work to earn it. I wouldn't say it's an advantage he had - it's been a bit of a luxury." <ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=338&objectid=10447373</ref> | |||
| Barker married former ] ] representative ] in February 2004. They have a child together, Mia. | |||
| == America’s Cup == | == America’s Cup == | ||
Revision as of 23:06, 6 July 2007
| Dean Barker | |
|---|---|
| 4th Skipper of the New Zealand America's Cup Challenge/Defenses | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 06 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Russell Coutts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-04-18) April 18, 1973 (age 51) Auckland, |
| Spouse | Mandy Smith |
Dean Barker is an America's Cup skipper, having helmed Team New Zealand in various campaigns.
Barker sailed from an early age, starting out in Optimist and P Class boats, before graduating to 470s and Lasers. He unsuccessfully trialed for the 1996 Olympic Finn team.
Barker has had mixed success in the sport of yachting. He is considered to lack the intelligence and intellect of Russell Coutts (a trained Civil Engineer). In the 2003 Americas Cup, the Coutts skippered Swiss boat Alinghi defeated Barker and Team New Zealand in a 5-0 series whitewash.
In the 2007 Americas Cup series in Valencia, Spain, Barker clearly showed he was not at the top level of international yachtsmen. Emirates Team New Zealand, of which he was the skipper, went down decisively 5-2 to the Swiss boat Alinghi, led by fellow New Zealander Brad Butterworth. Barker was clearly outmanoeuvred by Butterworth in all of the five races won by Alinghi. Thus a series that many experts believed should have been won by Emirates Team New Zealand, ended up being markedly one-sided. Barker was criticised by some New Zealand fans for a "lack of coolness under pressure."
Some of Barker's poor decision making and lack of guile have been attributed to a privileged upbringing. His father is the well-known New Zealand multi-millionaire Ray Barker of the Barkers Clothing retail chain. Childhood friend Hamish Pepper said of Barker; "the biggest thing he probably had over me was financial support. He could study, and sail at the same level as myself, while I had to work to earn it. I wouldn't say it's an advantage he had - it's been a bit of a luxury."
Barker married former New Zealand field hockey representative Mandy Smith in February 2004. They have a child together, Mia.
America’s Cup
His first introduction to the America’s Cup was in 1995 when Russell Coutts invited him to train with Team New Zealand in San Diego. Although he was not involved in the successful challenge, he became a permanent member of the cup defense team once the cup was in Auckland.
Because there was no defender's series Team New Zealand used high intensity in-house racing to prepare for its cup defense. Barker’s skill as a match racer rapidly developed and he became skipper of the “B Boat” in these races. Although the racing was not public, and scores were not kept, it became apparent that he was at least holding his own with Coutts.
Team New Zealand went on to successfully defend the 2000 Cup 5:0, with Coutts relinquishing his normal helming role to Barker in the last race. After the 2000 cup there were multiple defections to other syndicates, most notably Coutts and Brad Butterworth to Alinghi and as a result Barker became skipper.
In the 2003 Americas Cup, the Swiss boat Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand in a 5-0 series whitewash. The subsequent internal team review concluded that the major factors in the defeat were weaknesses in the boat design/construction and a poor leadership and management structure. Barker's reputation survived and he was selected as skipper and helmsman for the 2007 challenge.
The renamed Emirates Team New Zealand, with Barker as skipper, was one of the challengers for the 2007 Valencia America's Cup. Barker started Team New Zealand's quest to take the Auld Mug back to New Zealand successfully by winning the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup by beating the Italian Luna_Rossa_Challenge 5:0 in the final. This was the first time that the Louis Vuitton Cup had ever been won without a race loss to the opponent. This gave Emirates Team New Zealand and Barker the opportunity to challenge Alinghi for the 32 America's Cup. By winning Race 2 of the 2007 America's Cup against the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand ensured that the scoreline in the America's Cup would not show a clean sweep victory for the first time in fifteen years. Many experts believed Emirates Team New Zealand had a good chance of winning but the series ended up in very close racing with a defeat for Emirates Team New Zealand, by one second in the final race.
External Links
Reference
- http://www.590klbj.com/news/article.aspx?id=1165515
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501154&objectid=10449843
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=338&objectid=10447373