Dean Barker to Lead Japan’s America’s Cup Team

New Zealander Dean Barker has been appointed as skipper and CEO of Japan’s challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup.

“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. “We’re filling the key roles on the team as quickly as we can.”

“I think we’re pulling together a very strong team,” he 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.”

Auckland-born Barker, 43, is a veteran of four America’s Cups – all for his native Team New Zealand, steering it to victory in 2000. He was also at the helm when the team won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007 and 2013.

SoftBank Team Japan was confirmed as a challenger for the next regatta after Italian syndicate Luna Rossa withdrew in protest at the organizers’ decision to change the size of the yacht to be used.

Original article by AFP-JIJI, Reuters, The Japan Times, May 21, 2015.

Photo by SoftBank Team Japan.