Dean Barker
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| Dean Barker | |
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4th Skipper of the New Zealand America's Cup Challenge/Defenses
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 06, 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Russell Coutts |
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| Born | April 18, 1973  Auckland, |
| Spouse | Mandy Smith |
| Religion | New Zealand secular |
Dean Barker born on April 13, 1972 in Takapuna, New Zealand. Educated at Westlake Boys High School. Best known internationally for his participation in the America's Cup with Team New Zealand and Emirates Team New Zealand.
In the 2007 Americas Cup series in Valencia, Spain, Emirates Team New Zealand, of which he was the skipper, went down decisively 5-2 to the Swiss boat Alinghi. Barker was clearly outmanoeuvred by the Swiss boat in all of the five races won by Alinghi.[1]
Barker's father is the well-known New Zealand multi-millionaire Ray Barker of the Barkers Clothing retail chain. Barker married former New Zealand field hockey representative Mandy Smith in February 2004. They have one child named Mia.
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[edit] Early Sailing Career
Barker sailed from an early age, starting out in Optimist and P Class boats, before graduating to 470s and Lasers.
[edit] Olympic Games
- 1996 - Unsuccessfully trialed to represent New Zealand in the Finn for the 1996 Olympic Games.
- 2000 - Did not participate in the New Zealand selection trials due to America's Cup commitments.
- 2004 - Represented New Zealand in the Finn finishing 13th out of 25 competitors
[edit] America’s Cup
Barker's 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. The subsequent internal team review left Barker's reputation intact and he was selected as skipper and helmsman for the 2007 challenge.
The renamed Emirates Team New Zealand, with Barker as skipper and helmsman, 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 by winning the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup by beating the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge team 5:0 in the final after the previous elimination of the other 9 challengers. 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 32nd America's Cup.
By winning Race 2 of the 2007 America's Cup against the Defender Alinghi, 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 finished the 2007 America's Cup with a 2-5 race defeat.
Overall the 2007 America's Cup racing was close with the final race won by Alinghi, skippered by fellow New Zealander Brad Butterworth, with a winning delta of 1 second. Subsequently Barker was criticised by some New Zealand fans for a "lack of coolness under pressure".
Barker has participated in one defence and two challenges for the America's Cup. After the 2007 event, his record as helmsman was 3 wins to 10 defeats.
[edit] Summary of Sailing Career
- 1988: P-Class Tanner Cup (1st), P-Class Tauranga Cup (1st)
- 1993: Asian Pacific Laser Champs (1st), NZ Matchracing Champs (1st), world Laser champs (10th)
- 1994: NZ Matchracing champs (1st)
- 1995: NZ Matchracing champs (1st)
- 1996: Finn class world ranking (5th), Olympic Finn class trials (5th), Kenwood Cup (3rd)
- 1997: Steinlager Line 7 Cup (2nd), NZ Matchracing champs (2nd), Sydney-Hobart (9th)
- 1998: Australia Cup (1st), ACI Cup Croatia (2nd), Swedish Match Cup (3rd), Kenwood Cup (1st)
- 2001: ISAF World Matchracing champs (1st)
- 2003: Skipper and helmsman of Team New Zealand in 0-5 loss to Alinghi
- 2004: Olympic Games, Finn class (13th)
- 2005: Congressional Cup (1st)
- 2006: MedCup TP52 circuit (2nd)
- 2007: 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup winner as skipper and helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand but beaten in the 2007 America's Cup 2-5 by the Alinghi
