Editorial: Support vital as Burling gets his dream job

What a week for Peter Burling. And what a week for Dean Barker.

Burling has achieved his dream of skippering Team New Zealand - a highlight in an already hugely successful sailing career.

It's an incredible feat for someone so young and there will be thousands of people across the Western Bay supporting the 24-year-old, who went to Tauranga Boys' College.

This support, and that of his team, will be critical for Burling as his new job as co-helmsman comes with huge responsibilities.

One only has to think back to past America's Cup campaigns to appreciate the pressure that will rest on his shoulders come race time. The stress on Dean Barker's face after we lost the last campaign in San Francisco is still vivid in my mind.

It is unfortunate that Burling's big moment has been tarnished by Team New Zealand's handling of dumped skipper Dean Barker.

Barker is "absolutely gutted" over how Team New Zealand handled his axing.

Barker is not interested in the offer of being a team performance manager and sailing coach, with a place on the executive committee. I can understand this. He likes to sail the boat, not spend his time in a coaching role. But if he does part ways with the team it will be a huge loss of knowledge and experience.

He has now issued a grievance against the organisation so there will be more to come on this aspect of the story.

It is a shame that Barker's career, which has included three America's Cup campaigns at the helm, has come to a grinding halt like this.

It is not quite the high note I imagined he would one day go out on.

Despite all this, it is important that Burling, his family and supporters look past the Barker debacle.

The Team New Zealand decision, whatever people think of it, has been made and the Tauranga sailor now needs to put all his energy and focus into the job at hand.

The first task is planning for the first America's Cup World Series regatta at Cagliari, Italy, in June.

Burling's appointment coincides with the launch of a Bay of Plenty Times Weekend series today celebrating the achievements of top Bay sportspeople.

See page A16 for the first instalment written by Juliet Rowan.