Yachting: Just another day at the office for Barker and boys from Team NZ

The teams eyes are locked on the target. This isn't happening. It's just another day. Photo / AP

The America's Cup is tantalisingly close - but you won't get Dean Barker doing back flips. Not now. Probably not ever. It's just another day.

You hear Barker - in fact most of the sailors on Emirates Team New Zealand - say that. It's a mantra: Just another day.

It's an insight into the sports psychology being employed by ETNZ at this Cup.

They are blocking out the fanfare, the crowds, the hype, the pressure, the enormity of their task. At the dockout ceremony yesterday the music blares, the sun beats down, the aerobatics plane (sponsored by Oracle and often piloted by Larry Ellison) is doing impossible flips, the haka is one man but loaded with significance, the national anthems were are emotional and there is patter with the broadcast hosts introducing the team to some of the 35,000 spectators.

All of that is blocked out.

The team acknowledge the cheers but their jaws are set, their eyes locked on the target. This isn't happening. It's just another day.

It's not about denial. It's about routine, repetition and ensuring one is transported into the zone; the competitive zone where it all goes right and where everything happens as it is supposed to.

It's a bit like a golf swing, maybe, where professional golfers practice and practice until their eyes, brain and muscles flow together in something that becomes so inherent, almost like DNA, that it has little to do with the word "training".

"I know it sounds funny," says Barker. "It feels like you should be peaking. But we like the race day to be like every other day we have prepared for.

"The boat gets the same treatment in terms of system checks; we try to do everything the same so we make sure we are ready to go well. When we are on the water, we go through the same processes and the same manoeuvres as fast as we can.

"It's hard to do because this place is full on. There are sponsors, guests, media, crowds - all people you have to make time for but you can't let it get to you or put you off. It's just another day.

"Like the dockout show probably isn't ideal but it's essential for the event. We have to sail up from the base, do our turn for the spectators and the TV and stay in that place you're in."

At yesterday's dockout show, Barker and the ETNZ crew were lined up with the crowd, waiting to be introduced on stage. Fans crowded around. Some asked for a picture. Barker obliges. He is far too nice a man to refuse but his face was set. Grin for the camera. Smile for the fans. Then back to set. Just another day.

"It gives you a great base," says Barker. "We do it because you have got to get on the boat saying to yourself that it's not a big deal; that it's like any other day on the water. It helps you to be relaxed, confident and know what you are doing.

"It makes a big difference. You know you need to sail at your absolute best but you don't want to load yourself up with pressure. You need to find the ability to make sure you are in the sort of place where you can cope when the pressure goes on, or you need to do something extra or you need to push harder."

The truth of that was evident in both races yesterday.

In the first, an insistent Spithill and Team USA snapped at Team NZ's heels. Two near misses and a smart move around the bottom mark saw him persuade Barker to turn tight to cut off Team USA - who then slingshotted round the top.

In the second race, Barker held his nerve against a charging Spithill who, when blocked near the line, chose to chase the penalty by seeking a touch of the two boats.

But the umpire's call - perhaps a bit surprisingly - went against them and Team USA had lost the call and control of the race.

Team NZ never lost it.

Team USA also had to make some jury rig repairs on their wing - duct tape was in evidence - so it is not yet known whether that had any effect. The boffins in the Oracle shed will also be working all night to find more speed.

But if they do win a race or races today, don't expect Barker or Team NZ to be any different. Because today will be just another day.