SPLIT - Team New Zealand's Dean Barker is 2-0 up in the semifinals of the ACI Cup, Croatia's international match-racing regatta, against Swedish America's Cup skipper Magnus Holmberg.
Things are not looking so good for the other Team New Zealand crew, led by Bertrand Pace, who are 0-2 down against expatriate
Kiwi Gavin Brady, sailing for the Prada Cup challenge.
Despite the semifinals being a first-to-win-three-race series, Barker was as ever cautious at the end of the day.
"It's too early to be comfortable," he said. "We had a good day today, our timing was good, and we felt we were sailing well.
"We got two up, which is nice - but tomorrow, who knows what the weather is going to be like."
The young Kiwi skipper certainly knows better than to make any assumptions, probably remembering being in a similar position at Perth's Australia Cup last year, before going down 2-3 to Peter Gilmour.
Barker had made his way into the semifinals by beating Denmark's Jesper Radich 2-0 in the quarter-finals, with Bertrand Pace having the same score over another Dane, Jes Gram-Hansen.
Conditions for the day were more consistent than they had been earlier in the week. The steady eight to 10-knot sea breeze suited Barker and his crew of Hamish Pepper, Chris Ward, James Dagg and Tony Rae.
Complimenting his tactician, Barker said: "Hamish was doing a really good job with the breeze today, and all the way around the course we felt comfortable."
"It was the most breeze we've had since we've been here. These boats need eight to 10 knots to come into their own. Below that they're too heavy."
Chris Ward is sailing despite having stitches in two fingers after an accident with a knife. He said the event doctor was renewing the dressing night and morning.
