Dean Barker Interview at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda
by Rob Melotti 18 Oct 2015 23:50 BST
16-18 October 2015
Dean Barker at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda © Rob Melotti
Rob Melotti talks to Dean Barker of SoftBank Team Japan after Super Sunday at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda.
Rob Melotti: How do you think it went today?
Dean Barker: It was a little frustrating actually. We struggled to string three good races together. There were opportunities, but we couldn't quite finish them off. I feel like we're improving but unfortunately it doesn't seem to show on the scoreboard.
Rob: Do you feel like you're improving or the team altogether?
Dean: The team, definitely. We're a lot better than we were in Portsmouth. All the teams as you can see out there are improving very quickly as well. It's just going to be one of those things where we keep chipping away. Keep focussing on 2017.
Rob: What's your reaction to the Artemis crash? How does that make you feel?
Dean: Well it's just nice that there was no-one injured. It was pretty fast. It was amazing there wasn't more damage.
Rob: Is there anything in the rules to their advantage? Might they get redress?
Dean: There's no redress in the World Series. If it happens it happens. Fortunately for them they were able to race, and got a great result.
Rob: Do you think you improved during the day?
Dean: In the last race we sailed better. We needed to be better at the starts, we didn't really capitalise on a couple of things as well as we could have done. That's just the way it all goes.
Rob: Was one side of the course better than the other? Or was it back and forth?
Dean: There were opportunities on both sides. You just had to manage what you were doing really well around the course. We probably didn't manage one situation as well as we could have. In general I think it was a pretty interesting race.
Rob: Where do you go next, with your eyes on 2017?
Dean: The good thing for us now is that we get the chance to start sailing an AC45 on the Great Sound base. With the change in the protocol we can actually start training in these boats, which we haven't been able to do. The only training we've had is in the three days leading up to the event. We'll start sailing next week, training against the French team. It's going to keep building up. We'll sail right through the year on this boat.
Rob: Do you think they will improve the spectacle, before the next races? Even more than today, which was great!
Dean: Yeah, it was fantastic. I'm sure the images taken here have been great. It will get better and better.
Rob: What are you going to learn about the Great Sound, do you think?
Dean: It will be interesting, there will be varied conditions. We'll have to keep learning and keep our eyes on the long term.
Rob: There were some teams with code zeros and some without in the first race. I think everybody dumped them after that. What were your thoughts on it?
Dean: In the first event at Portsmouth Ben (Ainslie) definitely had an advantage; he knew the crossovers better. I think everyone's learned from that. It was a bit of a mixed view today on how to actually manage it. It's one of those interesting technical choices.
Rob: Thanks very much, Dean.