Yachting: Barker damns sailors for secrecy

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker has condemned the wall of silence put up by old teammates who are on the brink of signing with rival America's Cup syndicates.

Another long-time Team New Zealand crewman, Dean Phipps, is about to join the exodus to Russell Coutts' new Swiss Cup syndicate.

And many of the eight other key Black Magic sailors still to confirm who they will sail for in 2003 are in the final stages of jumping ship.

Barker said last night that he was disappointed with the sailors' secrecy over their Cup futures.

"It's amazing how quiet some of these guys can go, when we were supposed to have a very open team philosophy," Barker said. "It's like they're hiding something.

"I have no problem with them entertaining other offers - I said I wanted them to be open about it. But I can't believe how they've remained so silent."

Last night, Phipps was hoping to speak to Coutts, who is in Europe, to discuss his future.

The 36-year-old bowman had been in talks with the secretive Seattle syndicate, but has changed tack.

"I'm going to look at what Russell can put to me," he said. "I may have cut myself out of the Seattle thing. I haven't heard from them for a while."

His move to Switzerland would complete the Team Magic sextet. The rest of Coutts' world matchracing team - Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney, Warwick Fleury and Murray Jones - have already gone.

A bowman for New Zealand challenges since 1992, Phipps has not ruled out staying with Team NZ but made it clear after the last Cup that he wanted a change of scene.

Phipps will sail with Coutts, Jones and other Kiwi crewmen in the Nations Cup in Italy in a fortnight. "I will have definitely made up my mind by then," he said.

Another about to make his decision is mastman Matt Mason. He said last night that he was on the verge of signing with an overseas syndicate but would not confirm it was the Seattle group. There is little chance he will stay in New Zealand.

"Team New Zealand had their chance of coming back and doing better, but nothing's really happened," he said.

Barker said Team NZ was in no position to enter into a bidding war with the big-money syndicates raiding the Kiwi crew.

"There's no way we [can] meet these offers. Where does it stop?"

A rumour circulating that up to 15 Team NZ members would be on a flight to Seattle tonight was shot down by sailors yesterday.

But Mason said the Seattle threat had to be taken seriously. "At least 10 or 12 people - not all sailors - could go there," he said.

Grinders Craig Monk and Andrew Taylor have been put among the names but neither could be contacted yesterday.

Tactician Richard Dodson said he had an offer from Seattle but had yet to decide.

Pitman Jeremy Scantlebury, overseeing a boat-building project in Australia, said: "I haven't signed for anybody. I'm keeping out of it over here."

Trimmer Robbie Naismith is in the United States preparing to sail in the Newport-Bermuda race on Sayonara, the maxi owned by new Cup syndicate head Larry Ellison. It is thought that Naismith will join Ellison's challenge.

Another trimmer, Grant Loretz, could not be contacted. Young sailor Cameron Appleton, touted as a back-up helmsman for Barker, said a question still hung over his future. He had talked to Barker but was in no rush to sign with anyone.

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

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