Coastal Classic- Dean Barker back sailing an Australian multihull

by Richard Gladwell on 23 Oct 2013
In his first race since the 2013 America's Cup, Emirates Team NZ skipper raced aboard the ORMA60, Team Australia, skippered by Sean Langman.

Team Australia was sailing in an ORMA60 exhibition race around the Waitemata harbour against the New Zealand ORMA60, TeamVodafoneSailing. Team Australia is in New Zealand ahead of the 2013 PIC Coastal Classic, a 120nm sprint north to the Bay of Islands from Auckland, starting at 10.00am on Friday.

Barker was joined by winning Volvo Ocean Race skipper, Mike Sanderson - now with Doyle Sails, checking out some new front sails on Team Australia.

Langman got an early jump on the Simon Hull skippered TeamVodafoneSailing, and looked to have the race in the back at North Head, but as they headed to a mark in the Rangitoto Channel, TeamVodafoneSailing, got a better breeze, used a better sail combination (bigger jib), and powered through the lesser canvassed Team Australia.

The match up added a real point of interest to the Coastal Classic - with most expecting Team Australia to the business. but now being forced to have a re-think after today's outcome.