By TERRY MADDAFORD
The wily old fox met his match in the new hero of New Zealand yachting on the Waitemata Harbour yesterday.
America's Cup last-race skipper Dean Barker, stung by two surprise losses, got up on the line to beat Chris Dickson in one of the best of the 36 matchraces
in the Steinlager Line 7 Cup, sailed in blustery winds.
After 10 rounds of 14 in the round-robin phase which is scheduled to finish this afternoon, New Zealand skippers hold a strong hand.
Cameron Appleton, 22, who has lost only once, to Barker on the first day, is one win ahead of Briton Andy Green, who won five of his six yesterday, in group A.
Dickson and Barker, with eight wins from 10 races, share the lead in group B, with Frenchman Bertrand Pace one place back. Dickson meets Pace first this morning, while Barker meets the Frenchman in the last of their round-robins.
Appleton also faces a testing day. He meets Green in his first race, then Kiwi Gavin Brady, who has won seven races, next.
Appleton described his day on the water as "fantastic."
"I made a few errors myself but my crew made up for them," he said.
Of his efforts to beat Bjorn Hansen after incurring a penalty - amid a fair amount of yelling - Appleton said: "We took him past the committee boat which left us time to complete the penalty and still get across in front."
Appleton, fresh from his role on the Team New Zealand back-up boat, won the start in all his six races yesterday en route to a perfect record in mainly southerly winds of between 10-18 knots.
"While those conditions do not really suit us, they made it a bit more even and offered some passing opportunities."
Barker, four from four before yesterday's racing, increased that to five before coming unstuck against world No 3 Luc Pillot, who had not won at this regatta or on his previous visit to Auckland.
Barker then lost his next to Green but bounced back later in the day to win three straight, including the finale against Dickson.
Dickson was penalised for a port-starboard incident on the first downwind leg. As he undertook his penalty turn late on the second downwind leg, Barker was able to get across the line for a 5s victory.
Dickson's bowman Kevin Batten is a doubtful starter today after badly cutting his foot during a tack.
By TERRY MADDAFORD
The wily old fox met his match in the new hero of New Zealand yachting on the Waitemata Harbour yesterday.
America's Cup last-race skipper Dean Barker, stung by two surprise losses, got up on the line to beat Chris Dickson in one of the best of the 36 matchraces
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