Barker-san leads Japan in the Cup. Will he be the anti-Coutts?
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As we had widely announced, Dean Barker is the new skipper and CEO of Softbank Team Japan: “It’s an incredible opportunity to build a new team from scratch.”, Barker said from Bermuda (the location chosen for the final phase of the Cup), where he along with the other key man on the Japanese team, Kazuhiko Sofuku, “Fuku,” (a Cup veteran with Nippon Challenge in 1999-2000 and now general manager of the syndicate that will race in the Cup under the colors of the Kansai Yacht Club) met with the America’s Cup organization.
BARKER THE ANTI COUTTS?
Russell Coutts will have to look out for a new rival. The very Barker to whom he left the helm in the last challenge of the at the Cup final in 2000 against Luna Rossa, and who after so many years with the New Zealanders was “dumped” (Kiwis preferred him to Australian Glenn Ashby and rising star Peter Burling). But who, with his 20 years of Cup experience and foiling-related know-how, is a definite asset to the Japanese.
TEAM AND WORLD SERIES
The Japanese joined the other five teams (Artemis, Team France, Ben Ainslie Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle, the defender) after Luna Rossa threw in the towel. The first leg of the AC45 World Series, after Prada cancelled the Cagliari event, will be held in Portsmouth June 23-26. In Gothenburg, on the other hand, racing will take place Aug. 28-30 while in Bermuda the leg is scheduled for Oct. 16-18.
JAPAN IN THE CUP
Japan has already sailed in three editions of the Cup, in 1992, 1995 and 2000, often relying on New Zealand sailors. Chris Dickson, for example, was the skipper in 1992, the year the Japanese union reached the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. In 1995, John Cutler, also from New Zealand, was at the helm of the Japanese boat, which again reached the semifinals.
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