It's best of British for Barnes

By JULIE ASH

After a 16-year absence, the British are coming back to challenge for the America's Cup with a little help from experienced Auckland sailor David Barnes.

Barnes is the general manager of GBR Challenge, Britain's first assault on the cup since 1986.

"I have a say in everything in the organisation, from the sail design to the everyday running of things," Barnes said.

"I have to make sure we don't fall into the potholes there are to the America's Cup."

Barnes has been involved in the past five cup regattas.

He was skipper of KZ5 and back-up helmsman for KZ7 in his first regatta in 1987. He was at the helm of KZ1 in 1988 and was a tactician for NZL20 in 1992 before coaching One Australia and then America True in the past two regattas.

He was on the One Australia yacht when it split and sank in 1995. "We became the Australian swimming team."

Barnes put Britain's long absence down to a lack of money rather than a lack of interest.

That is something that computer millionaire Peter Harrison has rectified.

"It was fortunate that Peter was prepared to put his money where his month is," Barnes said. "He had a vision, he saw the opportunity and said, 'I can afford this, I can do this.'

"He had just sold his business for £300 million [$1 billion]. He said, 'I have got a lot of money and I want to do something with it'."

With Harrison's backing, the British syndicate bought the assets of the now-defunct Japanese syndicate Nippon, which competed at the last regatta.

"We bought three yachts, the chase boat and all the equipment. It was a great starting point for our campaign. We really got an America's Cup starter's kit."

GBR Challenge are testing two of the yachts in Auckland while designing their cup boat, which they hope to start building in Britain next month.

"We plan to have a new boat down here by June."

Barnes said his involvement with the British syndicate came after a phone call from Harrison.

"From my point of view I wanted to make sure that he understood what was involved. I could have very easily said, 'You want to do the America's Cup, then let's do; we can win it,' but it was totally the opposite.

"I explained to him how hard the game was and the magnitude of the project. In the past, people have said, 'Let's do the America's Cup,' but they have had no people, no boats and no money.

"He came back to me and said, 'I understand everything you have said, but we have to start somewhere'."

Barnes said the British were determined and quick to learn.

"There is a lot of talent here. Most of our sailors have come out of the Olympic classes, and Britain was the top sailing nation at the last Olympics."

Despite having lived in New Zealand all his life, Barnes said his allegiance was with the British.

"At the end of the day you are going to do the best job for the people you work for.

"It has become very multinational, with Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth going elsewhere [Ernesto Bertarelli's Swiss challenge]."

GBR Challenge are one of several syndicates setting up in Auckland in preparation for the Louis Vuitton challengers series, which starts this time next year.

"By the end of this month there could be five syndicates on the water."

Feature: America's Cup