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Dean Barker celebrates - Source: Photosport -
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Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker might have preferred that the America's Cup stuck with monohulls, but having to learn a new type of sailing is invigorating, he says.
The next edition of yachting's most prestigious competition will be held in 2013 and will involve a new class of boat.
Cup holders Oracle Racing of the United States and the Italian club representing the challengers, Club Nautico di Roma, have unveiled the AC72, a 72-foot (22-metre) catamaran.
The AC72 will replace the 25-metre ACC sloops that have been used in multi-challenger regattas since 1992.
Barker said today that he had thought the move to a catamaran would be a daunting prospect when it was first mooted.
But those concerns were eased by the one-off head-to-head showdown between Oracle's trimaran and the catamaran of then-holders Alinghi of Switzerland in February.
"The guys on both those boats were monohull sailors that we were racing against previously and they made the transition quickly and easily, it would appear," he said.
"It's going to take time and effort to develop the necessary skills, but I'm sure that, given the group we've got here and the way they take on different challenges, we can adapt to that very well."
Barker, who was at the helm when Team NZ got past all other challengers to face off against Alinghi at the last multi-team regatta in Valencia in 2007, said he had little experience of multihull sailing.
He had started jumping into a catamaran recently and was enjoying the challenge.
"It's one of those things that's probably nice in a lot of ways, because it pushes you to learn a slightly different form of sailing," he said.
"It makes you want to get back out on the water and learn a new discipline, which is quite invigorating."
As for the quality of racing that two AC72s might produce, Barker said he would reserve judgment until he had a chance to compete in the boats.
"It's very much uncharted territory," he said.
"Oracle have made the decision and we have to live by it. We might not agree with it, but we want to be part of America's Cup so it's a new challenge for everyone."
One real positive was there was now some certainty, after the cup was put on hold by the long-running court battle between Oracle and Alinghi over the latter's proposed rule changes.
"It's very good to finally get through the waiting game and the uncertainty that has been surrounding it, the rumours and speculation that have been going on, so we are definitely happy to have a decision," Barker said.
"It wasn't really a surprise and it's good to know what we're moving to."
Barker's immediate focus is on the final round of the Med Cup in Italy next week, with Team NZ holding a healthy lead as they look to complete a successful defence of the title they won on their debut last year.
Team NZ originally entered the TP52 circuit to give their sailors competition while the America's Cup was in limbo.
The event at Cagliari is now set to be Barker and his crew's Med Cup swansong as they turn their focus back to the America's Cup.
