Yachting: A King and I

Mandy and Dean Barker. Photo / Kenny Rodger

It's not every day the King of Spain taps you on the shoulder and offers you a peppermint, but last year it became a regular occurrence for Emirates Team NZ skipper Dean Barker.

Barker, in Alicante helming NZ380 at the Med Cup circuit, last year did the same for the Spanish outfit Bribon. But Bribon had a chap on board who often shared the steering with Barker - King Juan Carlos.

They did pretty well too. Bribon finished second in the Med Cup.

"He's a great guy," said Barker of his royal shipmate. "He didn't like sailing upwind too much so he'd let me do that mostly. He'd sit there and be chatting away.

"Then, every now and then, you'd feel a tap on the shoulder and he'd be offering you one of those Smints. He liked them and was always offering them round."

Barker grew a healthy respect for the King's sailing ability and his regard for yachting.

The 71-year-old represented Spain in the Dragon class in the 1972 Munich Olympics. "He absolutely loves it. He loves being out there," said Barker.

"Every now and then he'd jump on the wheel. He was a really fun guy and he also loved just hanging out with the crew."

Barker will this week be joined by his wife Mandy and their three young daughters.

The family will be based in Valencia while Barker leads his crew through the five regattas that comprise the Med Cup.