By TERRY MADDAFORD
Dean Barker and most of his Team New Zealand crew will be out sailing today, but the black boats will stay at the dock.
The annual Steinlager Line 7 Cup puts America's Cup training on hold for a week as many of the world's best pitch themselves into some
serious match racing.
"We [Team NZ] are fortunate we have got three entries," said Barker. "It is important to keep doing the racing. To have 15 guys involved is a bonus."
But a change in the course area for this year's racing means there will be little home advantage for local crews. The switch from recent courses off the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron breakwater at Westhaven to a spectator-friendly course off Hobson Wharf and adjacent to the Viaduct Basin will mean different currents and breezes and some guesswork for the 12 skippers.
Barker admits his lack of recent racing will count against him and his crew of Tony Rae, James Dagg, Hamish Pepper and Chris Ward.
"We have not really focused on the Swedish Match Tour lately," said Barker, who favours his new Team New Zealand team-mate and defending champion Bertrand Pace as a likely winner.
Cameron Appleton, the third Team NZ skipper in the Steinlager Line 7 Cup, will be keen to continue where he left off last year. After beating Barker in the semifinals, Appleton lost the final to Pace.
Herald Online feature: America's Cup
Team NZ: who's in, who's out
