Dean Barker challenges Team New Zealand with American Magic

New Zealand sailor Dean barker, pattern of ‘American Magic’ American in 36th America’s Cup Which will be held in Auckland (New Zealand), will fight to achieve this title in his own country Emirates Team New Zealand In three versions of the cup; And it will do so under the flag of another nation.

As a youth, he excelled in the Laser and Fin category and was the New Zealand Match Racing Champion in 1993, 1994 and 1995. This attracted the attention of veteran Russell Cots who in 1995 invited him to be part of the team’s training sessions. New Zealand winning the America’s Cup in San Diego (United States). He was 23 years old.

Defending the title in the 2000 Auckland edition, Cuttings Gave him another mentor and name Team new zealand The Italian defended the title with a stunning 5–0 win against Luna Rossa. Coutts allowed Barker to command the boat in the final race of the finals.

After the 2000 New Zealand success, many of the most important members of the team decided to move on to other high-paying teams. Among them was Russell Coutts, who was signed by the Swiss team Allingi with a great financial offer.

Dean dark He took the place of Cute as the custodian and the New Zealand team, in defense of the title in Auckland, suffered major humiliation after being 5-0 unbeaten by the ‘Alingi’ under the command of Coats.

Despite this, Barker remained the team’s custodian in Valencia in 2007. The Team new zealand He won the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Tournament) 5–0 against the Italian Luna Rosa, but lost again against ‘Alingi’ (5–2) in the final of that edition.

The era of multihall in the 2013 edition in San Francisco (United States) had already begun with AC72 (22 meters in length) with ‘Feel’ (Alliers). The starting team was victorious for New Zealand, again with Barker as the custodian, defeating Luna Rusa 7–1 to win the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Was the opponent in the finals Oracle Team USA, Defending champion, as guardian of Australian James Spiethill. The New Zealanders stole the first nine sets to get within a single win (8–1) of the title, but needlessly, the Americans recorded eight consecutive wins and won 9–8 to win the title.

It was the end Dean barker In the New Zealand team and 20 years later on 10 March 2015, his departure from Team New Zealand was announced. It looked as if his stage in the America’s Cup had ended, but in the 2017 edition in Bermuda, disputed with the AC50 multihull (15.25m), he was named captain of the Japanese team SoftBank Team Japan, but he was in the semi-finals The Louis Cup was over. Wooten for Swedish Artemis (5–3).

Star of Dean barker It looked like it was shut down for good, but before the announcement of the 36th edition of the Cup, in 2020, one of the teams, which was formed in October 2017, sponsored the ‘American Magic’ by the New York Yacht Club. was.

American Terry Hutchinson He was appointed team manager and captain. And he did not hesitate to choose the right sailor to drive the AC75 (with Monol in the next piece).

“Not many helms with the knowledge to navigate big boats with ‘boats’ like Dean Barker.” And it fits with the task that is sought in all classes of navigation ”, Hutchinson indicated, 52 years into his fifth expedition to the Glass of America.

Hutchinson and Barker were Team New Zealand’s leading men in Valencia in 2007, winning them the Louis Vuitton Cup. Barker was the boss and Hutchinson was his cousin.

“I was always honest about the person who was going to drive the ship. He had a couple of qualities and Dean fits each.. “I also want someone I can personally rely on and on water for,” Hutchinson explains.

With an experienced sailing team consisting of American, New Zealand, Australia and British, the presence of an inspired Dean Barker is an added attraction for its members.

The second big asset of ‘American Magic’ is their second AC75, ‘Patrot’. Which is already in New Zealand, the most sophisticated design that has come from the design table of Spanish Marcelino Botin and they expect it to be increasingly more competitive than the ‘Defiant’ with which they now train in New Zealand waters .