Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker beat BMW Oracle skipper Chris Dickson in the last race of five to win the New Zealand match racing yachting championship on the Waitemata Harbour yesterday.
Barker won the deciding race of the final by 12s after the pair had two wins each.
Dicksontook the first when Barker was disqualified, Barker won the second and third by 32s and 50s respectively and Dickson came back to win the fourth.
However, Barker finally surged home after the lead had changed a few times in the final race to win and take the championship for the third time.
Barker had a clear lead going into the final day of the regatta after Saturday's racing was cancelled due to strong winds.
Barker met Simon Minoprio in the sail-off while Dickson eliminated Cameron Appleton.
Barker beat Minoprio by 35s in the first race, but in the second Minoprio led from start to finish to win by 9s.
Minoprio led Barker to the top mark for the first time in race three but picked up a penalty for hitting the mark.
Back at the top mark for the last time Minoprio had a five-boat length advantage and there were numerous gybes and luffs as he tried to clear his penalty.
Coming to the finish, Barker got the inside and was able to sneak home as Minoprio completed his penalty turn on the line.
In the other match Dickson beat Appleton twice to secure his spot in the final.
Appleton, as third place-getter after he beat Minoprio, will be invited to fill the last available spot in the International Sailing Federation-sanctioned and grade one Auckland Match Racing Cup.
Ten skippers and their crew will battle for the cup on the Waitemata for five days from January 25.
Barker and Dickson have already been invited to compete.
They will be up against some of the best sailors in the world, including No 1 ranked Ed Baird (Team Alinghi) and Sebastian Col (K-Challenge).
