America's Cup- Barker and Burling to compete in different multihulls

by ETNZblog.com on 19 Jun 2014 Emirates Team New Zealand will be racing in two regattas in Europe next week: the single-handed A Class European championships in France and the fourth round of the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series in Russia.

Dean Barker and Glenn Ashby are on their way to France to compete in the A Class catamaran European championships.

Ashby has won the A Class world championships eight times, most recently at Auckland in February when Emirates Team New Zealand filled four of the five top placings. Blair Tuke was second, Peter Burling third and Ray Davies fifth.

Dean Barker did not compete in the worlds because of a clash with preparations for the first regatta of the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series regatta.

Glenn Ashby won’t be racing in the fourth regatta in the Extreme Sailing Series later this month. Ray Davies will step in, joining Burling, Tuke, Jeremy Lomas and Edwin Delaat at St Petersburg.

Barker and Ashby will race chartered boats in France. They are taking with them sails and rudders.

Barker says they’re expecting light winds on the lake at Carcans in South-west France, conditions that will delight the lighter Ashby. Barker, however, hopes for a brisker breeze to suit his larger frame.

The A Class regatta starts on June 21 and runs through to June 28.

The Extreme 40 crew leaves for Russia on Sunday. The boats will be launched on June 24, practice takes place the 25th, followed by four days of racing.

After three rounds, Emirates Team New Zealand is third on the leader board with 24 points, behind The Wave on 26 and Alinghi on 28.

Racing will be held off River Neva in the centre of St Petersburg.

The team is rotating crew through the series. Barker was on the helm at the first two regattas; Burling for the following two. Barker will return the Extreme Series for the fifth regatta at Cardiff from August 22 – 25.

Next up for Burling and Tuke is a return to their 49er Olympic campaign with a regatta in Finland and checking out the Olympic venue in Rio de Janiero.