Yachting: Just dandy, Deano

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Dean Barker - the future face of the America's Cup - was paid the ultimate Kiwi compliment by his boss Russell Coutts last night.

"He's not bad is he?" grinned the Team New Zealand skipper nodding towards Barker, the young man who drove the black boat to their final victory over Prada yesterday.

It would have to be one of the great understatements of this America's Cup.

Barker, at 26 the youngest sailor ever to helm a boat in a Cup match, sailed like an old salt - killing Prada's chances of survival before the silver Luna Rossa crossed the startline.

Barker had to overcome an attack of "incredible nerves" after Coutts asked him to take his place helming the Kiwi boat with Team New Zealand needing one more win.

It was up to Barker to make the final call.

"It's a very difficult position when you're 4-0 in front - knowing that if we lost I would look a bit silly," he said. "It was a very difficult decision to make. Everyone wanted to finish it off. And I really wanted to have a shot at it ..."

"But you made the right decision," quipped Coutts.

"It was out of this world," said Barker.

There were many who queried Coutts' decision yesterday to step off the boat and put a rookie in his place.

There were other crew changes on board yesterday - New Zealand's most experienced Cup sailor, grinder Andrew Taylor, and the wise man of Kiwi sailing, navigator Tom Schnackenberg also missed the grand finale for younger heads Chris Ward and Mike Drummond.

Said trimmer Simon Daubney: "Making crew changes now is pretty ambitious. But when it works and you get away with it, it's a cool thing."

Prada may have seen it as a sign of arrogance, but they did not say it.

Coutts saw it completely differently. Team New Zealand is a team, he insists, and he could put any of his sailors on to the race boat with confidence.

Coutts' decision to stand himself down for Barker could have been seen as noble or crazy - depending on the result at the end of the race.

"It wasn't that hard for me. I have been racing against this guy for four years now and I know he's capable - he showed that to the world today," Coutts said.

"It was a tough situation for him to come in, but he responded in the best possible way."

Barker and Coutts had discussed the possibility earlier in the week.

On the tow out to the course, Barker was fine. Come the five-minute gun, his knees went weak. Three minutes to the start, both crews eyeballed each other as the boats slid backwards with the current.

In true yacht-speak, Barker simply nailed 'em. He held Luna Rossa away from the startline, the silver boat crossing 12s after Team New Zealand. From there it was elementary.

"Keep it rolling Deano - that's the best thing," tactician Brad Butterworth told Barker as they carried on up the beat in sync with Prada.

All through the race, Butterworth urged the new helmsman on, offering advice. "It's easy to sail with Dean," he said afterwards.

The Italians, pushed out to the right on the first beat, never relinquished the fight. They were 24s behind at the first mark, and 22s at the bottom of the run. Prada gambled on a left hand shifted that never eventuated and fell off the pace.

As Team New Zealand approached the finish line, Daubney urged him: "Take it home Deano, take it home."

It didn't matter that they lost control of the spinnaker pole in the final gasp - the 48s winning margin was plenty enough.

Coutts was the first man to jump on board the black boat, after watching the race from a chaseboat.

"It was a fantastic day today to watch that final race," he said. "The boat looked even more impressive off than on it."

nzherald.co.nz/americascup