Yachting: Barker wins title

Oracle Racing Skipper Gavin Brady and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club team round the top mark in front of Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Dean Barker has retained the New Zealand Match Racing Championships title, beating Gavin Brady 3-2 in the best of five final off Westhaven in the Waitemata Harbour this afternoon.

Barker and his Team New Zealand crew controlled the crucial start in the deciding fifth race to sail away to victory. The Team New Zealand skipper has now won four national match racing titles, the last three in a row.

It was an encouraging weekend for Barker and Team New Zealand as they beat two key America's Cup rivals in BMW Oracle's Chris Dickson in the semi and Brady in the final.

- NEWSTALK ZB