Sailing: Coaches on the water guide Barker to victory

With a new world match racing circuit due to start in Brazil in March, what could be a trend-setting approach to winning was on show as New Zealand's America's Cup skipper Dean Barker delighted local supporters by winning the Auckland Match Racing Cup here over the weekend.

Watching from what was effectively a floating coaching dug-out were New Zealand's America's Cup coach, Rod Davis, and, making animated observations, British triple Olympic medallist and tune-up helmsman Ben Ainslie. At the end of each race the crew transferred to the support boat for advice.

Not that they needed much help in yesterday's final. Barker swept aside Bertrand Pace 3-0, the Frenchman handing out penalties like fortune cookies in a performance full of unforced errors.