AC45 ‘F’ Series 2015 @Portsmouth: Barker & Draper will seek ‘Revenge’

by Editor · Published July 22, 2015 · Updated June 23, 2020

All Images Americas Cup / ACEA / Gilles Martin Raget / Matt Knighton & Japan Soft Bank , click pics for HQ & Slideshow-
ACWS will start in two days, but Live Racing will be limited this time. I can ´t believe instead of getting more audience they go few steps backwards in terms Live streaming…
Check your local broadcast restricted options at americascup.com/en/news/
ACWS Portsmouth will be held July 23-26 , Check complete schedule at acws-portsmouth.americascup.com

Dean Barker was dropped out of TNZ helm position and replaced by current Nr 1 sailing hotshot and Moth / 49er World Champ Peter Burling, that team decision has no discussion whatsoever in my view and New Zealand offered Dean to stay on the team but not as helm.
This right management move of course is no reason for Barker to put down his sailing spirit and seek some ‘revenge’ from the Cup New Zealand lost at SF.

Chris Draper on his side was a confirmed helm at Luna Rossa new AC62 project, but the team hard work was cancelled when the other AC teams voted to go smaller size cats, from 62′ to 48′.
Bertelli didn´t liked that lobby and retired Prada from current Cup, leaving many talented sailors and designers without a team to compete for 2017.

With Barker now head of the new Soft Bank Japan team he went for Draper to join him in this second chance for Bermuda. Both have AC72 foiling racing experience plus plenty floating AC45 sailing hours.
At this year ACWS to be sailied at Portsmouth with the AC45 ‘F’ versions without much customization as those saling in Bermuda from oracle & Artemis, these two can turn out some heads around.
They will crearly be the underdogs.

Check also Team Japan foils shots by Raget, those Js assy section look exactly the same as Martin Fischer’s FP foils , of course there is a foil standard now after last Cup developments, and eye wise is tough to get the actual section used, but they seem extremely similar.

For more info on Barker and Draper check Team Soft Bank Japan web at https://softbank-team-japan.americascup.com/