Emirates Team NZ- Last race boost cannot save team from table bottom

by Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ on 26 Aug 2014 There was good and not-so-good for Emirates Team New Zealand on the final day of the Extreme Sailing Series Cardiff regatta.

By the end of the day Dean Barker and crew found themselves in unfamiliar territory – 11th on the Cardiff leader board, even after a great second place in the double-points last race.

After a regatta when very little seemed to go right, the team’s good performances at the four previous regattas came into the equation.... the team is still fourth on the 2014 championship leader board and handily placed to climb back into a podium position.

Dean Barker said: 'We needed a good day on the water today to climb up the leaderboard. It’s difficult to explain what went on. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

'Even the 18 points from the last race was not enough to make any difference.'

'We will debrief very heavily and look at what we need to improve. We want a much better showing at Istanbul in three weeks.'

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2014 overall standings
1st Alinghi (SUI) 47 points.
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 45 points.
3rd Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 34 points.
4th Emirates Team New Zealand 33 points.
5th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 25 points.
6th Gazprom Team Russia 22 points.
7th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 20 points.
8th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 18 points.
9th Oman Air (OMA) 16 points.
10th Groupama sailing team (FRA) 15 points.
11th GAC Pindar (AUS) 5 points.