Yachting: Barker about to do his own headhunting

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

It's Dean Barker's turn to do some pillaging of his own in the America's Cup war.

And at the top of the Team New Zealand skipper's want list is his old rival Gavin Brady.

Brady, former world No 2 matchrace skipper and one of New Zealand's Olympic sailors, has never found a place in the Team New Zealand ranks.

He was strategist in Paul Cayard's America One last time and tactician for Chris Dickson's Kiwi challenge before that.

But with the Team New Zealand brains trust heavily plundered by foreign syndicates, Barker needs to headhunt tactical experts such as Brady.

"I'd really like to have a chat with Gavin," said Barker, who has sailed against him on the world matchracing circuit.

"In the last campaign there wasn't a position for him, but I would welcome him back to New Zealand."

The Timaru-born skipper, who will sail in the Star class in the Sydney Olympics, would have to fit in with the "team" philosophy, which will continue to be the motto of Team New Zealand.

Barker is searching the world for New Zealanders who sailed for other syndicates in the last Cup. There is little need to headhunt foreigners.

He has already signed trimmer Daniel Fong, who worked for America True last time.

There are plenty of promising young Kiwis dominating world sailing, such as Olympians Dan Slater and Nathan Handley.

Even Ross Halcrow, the former Team New Zealand trimmer who defected to Young America, could be in Barker's reckoning.

He has not given up on all of the 10 Team New Zealand crewmen still leaning towards leaving.

"We're still targeting a couple of guys who are crucial," Barker said.

"But we can't go into a bidding war - they have to stay for the right reasons."

One of those Barker is trying to woo back is Cameron Appleton, the main candidate for backup helmsman.

Appleton, who has received an offer from the Seattle syndicate, met Barker and Team New Zealand chief executive Ross Blackman at a cafe across the street from the defender's base yesterday.

"I'm hoping Cameron will make his decision to stay,"said Barker. "He's a very talented sailor in his own right - he's the guy I would like to fill the role I had last time."

Team New Zealand know they are not going to entice crew with money.

They admit to being the lowest bidders amongst a fleet of multi-billionaire owners.

Barker's spiel is that they will be buying into a very strong team, who have the design database, the two fastest boats in the world - and an automatic place in the Cup final.

He needs more tacticians and a couple more grinders.

He has been inundated with CVs from around the country, and Team NZ will hold a trial next summer to fill the last gaps in the crew.

"Things aren't so bad. We've got one-and-a-half crews at the moment - we could go out tomorrow and sail two boats," Barker said.

"I've taken on a skipper's role in a team that isn't as strong as it was going to be at the end of the Cup.

"I realise we're the underdogs this time. But we will grow back to full strength again."

Barker has had little time to stop since coming home from winning the world matchracing championships last month and walking straight into the leadership job on Syndicate Row.

"I've been thrust into this role, so I'm having to learn pretty quickly," he said.

"In the last campaign I was sheltered from a lot of the decisions.

"I'd prepared myself to be the skipper of the boat and I thought I would have three years to learn about running a campaign.

"That became one day."

He smiles as he says: "I'm learning to live with it."

Team NZ: who's in, who's out

America's Cup feature