Dean Barker wins NZ Match Racing Championship

[Source: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron]

Brady versus Barker in the Finals

Brady versus Barker in the finals, you just have to say those two names together to know it’s going to be some fantastic racing.

Barker won the first match by 55 seconds and Brady came back to win race two by 14 seconds. Brady then took race three by 29 seconds and Barker in a match break point that ended in a close luffing match, contact right on the finish line, two penalties to Brady – and Barker took the win to level it up!

The finals were now down to the deciding – fifth race. Off the start it was clear Barker wanted the left and Brady the right, and at the top mark for the first time as the boats came together Barker was in front by almost 30 seconds. In the strong tide as Barker rounded the top mark he was propelled towards the bottom and went on to extend his lead and win race five by 54 seconds.

Barker – a hat trick – plus one!

This is the fourth time Dean Barker has won the New Zealand Match Racing Championships first in 1998 and then three times in a row, 2004, 2005 & now the hat trick 2006. He is the only skipper to win the illustrious title four times; the next skipper winning three times is Gavin Brady.

Petit Finals

Chris Dickson beat Adam Minoprio 2 – nil in the petit finals, Minoprio fought hard against the BMW Oracle’s helmsman in the mid range 14 – 18knots breeze, but Dickson showed his experience winning race one by 36 seconds & race two by 20 seconds.

Over the past four days young Minoprio proved he can race against the best and with a very mature head on his shoulders.

The winner of this event also receives an invitation to the Auckland Match Racing Cup, Grade 1 also held by the Squadron at the end of January 2007. Dean Barker is already a confirmed entry for this event. Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady are unable to attend as they will be training full-time on the AC boats, so the invitation was given to an elated Adam Minoprio and his Blackmatch racing team – who could hardly believe it when Commodore of the Squadron, John Crawford handed him the invitation at this afternoon’s prize giving. The 21 year old, who has sailed so maturely against this line up of New Zealand’s top match racing sailors, accepted the invitation – of course!

Confirmed skipper for the Auckland Match Racing Cup 2007
Mathieu Richard (France)
Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand / RNZYS)
Ian Williams (GBR)
Eugeny Neugodnikov (Russia)
Adam Minoprio (Blackmatch / RNZYS)

Gavin Brady hits Dean Barker and receives a penalty on the finish line of Race Four. Auckland, 26 November 2006. Photo copyright Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Dean Barker "went to the wall" in Race Five of the finals, a move that paid off. He won the race 54 seconds ahead of Gavin Brady. Auckland, 26 November 2006. Photo copyright Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron