New Zealander Dean Barker has come out fighting after being appointed as skipper and CEO of Japan’s challenge for sailing’s America’s Cup by team sponsors SoftBank.
“This is an incredible opportunity to build a new team from the ground up,” Barker said from Bermuda, where he was attending meetings with America’s Cup officials alongside Japan’s general manager Kazuhiko Sofuku. “We’re filling the key roles on the team as quickly as we can.
“I think we’re pulling together a very strong team,” the Kiwi added. “We want to compete at the head of the fleet and we’re assembling a team that is capable of doing that. Our goal is to win the America’s Cup.”
Barker is a veteran of four America’s Cups — all for his native Team New Zealand, steering them to victory in 2000 and he was at the helm for three defeats between 2003 and 2013.
He was ousted as skipper earlier this year after squandering an 8-1 lead to lose the America’s Cup to the USA’s Oracle in 2013.
Japan ended a lengthy absence from the America’s Cup by announcing their intent last month to race in Bermuda after agreeing to a tie-up with Kansai Yacht Club and backed by Japanese mobile giant SoftBank.
Reigning champions Oracle are set to provide some support for SoftBank Team Japan in their preparations for the world series events, the first of which takes place in July at Portsmouth on the English south coast.
“In the short term our job is to be ready to compete in Portsmouth,” said Sofuku. “Then our focus will shift to trialling more Japanese sailors as we continue to build and develop our team.”
The first America’s Cup was awarded in 1851 for a race around Britain’s southern Isle of Wight won by the schooner America.