America's Cup: Dean Barker's days look over as New York bring in Stars + Stripes

RICKY WILSON/Stuff

Dean Barker had an eventful time on the wheel of American Magic in Auckland.
Dean Barker’s time at the wheel for the New York Yacht Club looks to be over as they incorporate the considerable talents of struggling syndicate Stars + Stripes for the next America’s Cup.

Stars + Stripes never made the start line at Auckland 2021 as they struck financial difficulties in the Covid environment.

But they have two of the best yachting talents in the United States in Mike Buckley and Taylor Canfield, world match racing champions and multiple winners of the Bermuda Gold Cup.

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RNZ

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Canfield looms as an immediate candidate to be on the wheel of New York’s new-look team after Barker was at the helm of American Magic in Auckland.

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That campaign struck disaster with the spectacular capsize in the Prada Cup challenger series that eventually saw them become the first of the three overseas teams eliminated.

The New York Yacht Club said the latest development meant they had taken an initial, but significant, step towards establishing a sustainable franchise that could both win the 37th America’s Cup and provide a road map for the club’s future involvement and for how international sport’s oldest competition should evolve.

"Our challenge for the 37th America’s Cup will incorporate the experience gained during the previous edition with American Magic into the foundation of an enduring syndicate," New York’s commodore Christopher J Culver said.

Stars Stripes

Taylor Canfield and Mike Buckley were the forces behind Stars + Stripes Team USA.
"Our syndicate will showcase American talent and ingenuity, seek significant corporate support and create a leadership brand that can lift American sailing back to the top of the sport for generations to come."

That surely spells the end of Kiwi import Barker’s time on the wheel for the American outfit.

New York feel Canfield and Buckley, as reigning world champions, have plenty to offer though they will have to quickly get up to speed with powerful foiling boats.

Both are eager to deepen their knowledge with the Cup’s most famous club.

"Stars+Stripes is excited to work with New York Yacht Club to build a winning syndicate for the 37th America’s Cup and beyond," Buckley and Canfield said in a statement.

"We have tremendous admiration for the club’s tradition, heritage and winning mentality. We look forward to promoting positive change in sailing and making a difference for people both inside and outside the sport."

COR 36/STUDIO BORLENGHI

American Magic's Patriot loses control in a capsize that was an enduring image of the last America’s Cup regatta.
New York are eager to push on with their plans while they wait for details of the next America’s Cup from defender Team New Zealand and challenger of record Team UK.

"The New York Yacht Club will work to build the necessary partnerships and support for a substantial and serious America's Cup campaign," they said in a statement.

"By the time the date, location and class of yacht for the competition are announced, the club plans to have enough structure in place to hit the ground running."

New York believe they can learn plenty from their most recent experience which was run by Terry Hutchinson. They have been vocal in pushing their thoughts about moving the Cup forward, though have no clout beyond their history.

"As the founding trustee of the America’s Cup, we have an obligation to steward the competition towards a brighter, more sustainable future," Culver said.

"While our campaign for the 36th America’s Cup ended short of its ultimate goal, it provided us with an opportunity to reconnect with the Cup and a platform to advocate for the changes we think are necessary to ensure a vibrant future for this great competition.

"Our goal is to establish a syndicate that will keep us involved going forward and create an enduring legacy for American sailing and the Cup at large."