Barker not worried about Cup challengers

By HELEN TUNNAH

When the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers start slugging it out on the water next week, Dean Barker will be busy elsewhere.

He says he's got too much work to do getting Team New Zealand ready to defend the America's Cup to worry about the challengers.

Barker, 29, will today take time to fly the flag through the streets of central Auckland, when Team New Zealand join the nine challengers for the official welcome for the second Louis Vuitton Cup to be hosted here.

Barker seems increasingly comfortable with his new leadership role, after it was thrust on him soon after the successful cup defence in 2000.

Already he is under the microscope - the arrival of veteran Stars and Stripes skipper Dennis Conner bringing with it the sort of gamesmanship for which the cup is famous.

Conner has predicted Barker may struggle psychologically against his former mentor, the steely Russell Coutts, should Team Alinghi become the challenger.

But while Barker might be quiet and unassuming, he is no slouch.

The former world number one match racer has been holding his own against Coutts on the water for years.

"That's why I'm in the team - it's for my sailing skills - and I love the sailing," says Barker.

"It's easier to just turn up to work and go sailing.

"I don't for one second pretend that I'm responsible for leading this team.

"It's the people that you have around you who share the loads and responsibilities. I'm very lucky in that respect."

When the other syndicates start their battles on the Hauraki Gulf on Tuesday, Barker and Team New Zealand will probably be nearby, testing their first new boat and getting ready for NZL82, due to be launched about the middle of next month.

Barker says the defenders have no time to worry about who they might race.

They have got both new boats to develop, a new mast being unveiled next month and a crew to finalise for that vital first race in the America's Cup match on February 15.

"Within the space of 20 minutes we're going to know whether we are going to be competitive or not.

"We have spent a long time developing our boat as much as we can and believing in everything we do and it all comes down to race one in the end.

"In terms of finding the very best crew to take out to do race one, that's something we'll have to work really hard on.

"It's going to be a lot of pressure and that's one thing we have to prepare for. In my mind, I have to feel comfortable with every single person who's on the boat."

Although Alinghi are favourites to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and challenge Team New Zealand for the America's Cup, Barker says none of the syndicates should be written off - particularly Conner's, even though his team suffered a serious setback when one of their new boats sank off Long Beach, California, in July.

"Last time they took what was a good boat, not a great boat, and they nearly got through.

"You look at the teams that are around and there are some very strong challengers - and that's not just based on budgets.

"There are some teams here that have got small budgets that look like they've got competitive boats.

"But obviously the big teams are natural contenders.

"They've got very good people, very good designs, obviously money's not a problem and we're going to see some very good racing out there."

Coutts' Swiss team are unbeaten so far in informal racing among the challengers and Barker is open in his praise. "It's an amazing effort on their part to start from scratch and to come through as the one to beat in the challenger series.

"He's got a core group around him and pulled in people when they needed them.

"We've long forgotten about people leaving from Team New Zealand last time.

"For us, it's about the team we've got now and defending the America's Cup."

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