Yachting: Barker goes from bad to worse in match-racing

By JULIE ASH

Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker faces an uphill battle today to reach the quarter-finals of the international match-racing regatta in Auckland.

Barker and his team-mates, Tony Rae, James Dagg, Hamish Pepper and Chris Ward, have just three wins from nine starts in the Steinlager Line 7 Cup-sponsored regatta which is round four of the Swedish Match Tour.

Of the 12 teams, only the top eight go through to the quarter-finals, which start today.

To qualify, Barker has to beat competition leader Luc Pillot from the French Challenge Le Defi Areva, and American Ed Baird in the final of the round-robin matches this morning. Even then he is not guaranteed a spot.

After two wins from five starts on the first day, Barker's team went from bad to worse yesterday, winning just one race against Britain's Andy Green.

"It was a hard day. We didn't sail well," Barker said.

"The scoreline tells a story and it will be difficult for us to carry on, which is disappointing."

Shifty wind conditions off Hobson Wharf caused havoc for competitors and race organisers.

"The conditions are difficult but that is no excuse. It is the same for everyone," Barker said.

"Some days are just better than others, and today wasn't a good day."

Barker said the event was a lot different from America's Cup racing.

"The cup boats are quite a lot different, but we obviously need to work on the racing side of things to be a bit sharper.

"Obviously you like to be sailing well in the smaller scenarios, but we have got to look at the things we are learning, and try to improve in other regattas we go to."

With three races left in the round-robin competition, Pillot leads the charge with seven wins from nine starts.

"We are happy with the manner we are sailing the boat and our starts," Pillot said.

World No 1 Magnus Holmberg, of Victory Challenge, and Denmark's Jes Gram-Hansen have six wins from nine starts.

Holmberg scored the win of the day, beating world No 2 Oracle Racing's Peter Holmberg.

"We led most of the way around, then he got by us in the last beat," Peter Holmberg said.

"It is a painful one to sleep on, but hopefully we'll take it out on someone else tomorrow."

Prada's Gavin Brady has six wins from 10 starts and Baird and Mascalzone Latino's Paulo Cian have five from nine.

Still in the running for a quarter-final spot are Peter Holmberg, Prada's Rod Davis and Team Dennis Conner's Ken Read, who all have four wins from nine starts.

Like Barker, Baird was a disappointed man yesterday.

"I have got to say this is the most depressing press conference I have ever been to," he joked.

"So many people here are doing okay, but everyone is sort of grumpy and down - come on guys, come on Dean," he said, nudging the Team New Zealand skipper who was sitting next to him. "Cheer up."

GBR Challenge's Andy Green had the worst day with five straight losses. He has just two wins from 10 starts.

His main problem yesterday was getting across the startline.

"We had a shocker," Green said. "I couldn't start a lawnmower today. On a racecourse like that, if you can't start you are going home and today I am going home early."

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