What Happened To The New Zealand Yachtsman? Dean Barker’s life was upended by his poor health

Dean Barker, a 49-year-old New Zealander who competes in America’s Cup yacht races, is a well-known yachtsman worldwide. Additionally, he is well-known for owning a sizable portion in Kiwi Yachting Consultant.

In 1973, Barker was born in Takapuna, New Zealand. The sailor received his schooling at Westlake Boys High School.

Mandy Smith, a former field hockey representative for New Zealand, and Barker exchanged vows in February 2004. One boy, Matteo, and three daughters, Mia, Olivia, and Isla, make up the family of four.

After just disclosing that he had cancer and has been battling it for a long time, he recently made news.

dean barker
dean barker

Illness of Dean Barker: Does He Have Cancer?

Dean Barker stated that he overcame and survived bowel cancer while training with American Magic in the lead-up to the last America’s Cup, according to Stuff.

The team’s skipper and owner, Terry Hutchinson, according to the Kiwi sailing pro, was the only one who could relate to his struggles.

American sailor Terry Hutchinson is a ten-time Louis Vuitton Cup strategist and eleven-time world winner in the Corel 45, J/24, TP 52, Farr 40, and IMS classes. In 2008 and 2014, he was given the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award. He has also taken part in five America’s Cup campaigns.

Colon cancer, which is sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, develops in the lining of the bowel and is typically accompanied by growths called polyps. Polyps can develop into severe cancer if neglected. It may also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer depending on where the illness first appears.

Furthermore, 70% of people with colon cancer survive for at least five years.

Today, where is Dean Barker? Update On His Health Further

Dean Barker overcame intestinal cancer and has been maintaining a healthy lifestyle ever since. Barker, who lives in Auckland and continues to sail calmly and modestly, has enjoyed introducing his children to the sport.

He recently skippered Danger Zone to a second consecutive Young 88 national victory, fifth overall, alongside good friends and past Cup opponents Tony Rae, Jeremy Lomas, Ray Davies, Richard Meacham, James Dagg, and Chris Ward.

He took part in the American Magic’s 2021 Prada Cup as captain. But in the semifinals, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli defeated his squad 0-4 to win.

Dean Barker’s net worth in 2022 What His Net Worth Is

Dean Baker is thought to be worth more than $1.1 million. His career as a sailor has brought him success.

The national average wage for a sailor in New Zealand is $70,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.

When Barker first started sailing, he used Optimist and P Class boats before progressing to Lasers and Finns.

Russell Coutts persuaded Barker to train with Team New Zealand in 1995, and it was via this experience that Barker first became acquainted with the America’s Cup. He opted against going to San Diego, nevertheless, in favour of an Olympic campaign. He wasn’t a part of the successful challenge, but after the cup landed in Auckland, he became a permanent member of the team.

On May 21, 2015, the sailor was chosen to lead the Japanese challenger, Softbank Team Japan, as CEO and captain. Additionally, Barker was the skipper of the American Magic America’s Cup contender for the New York Yacht Club in 2021.

Additionally, Barker owns a sizable portion in Kiwi Yachting Consultants.

Early Life and Family

Barker was born in New Zealand’s Takapuna in 1973. Ray Barker, a New Zealander and owner of the Barkers Clothing retail company, is Barker’s father. Dean Barker attended Westlake Boys High School for his education. In February 2004, Barker wed Mandy Smith, a former field hockey representative for New Zealand. They have four kids: one son named Matteo and three daughters named Mia, Olivia, and Isla. Another significant shareholder in Kiwi Yachting Consultants is Dean Barker.

In order to avoid sympathy or being judged for having cancer, Barker kept his condition a secret when he returned to sail with the crew in preparation for the America’s Cup.Barker’s skin would change colour as a result of the chemotherapy, which his wife Mandy Barker claimed was challenging to see. Barker beat cancer after undergoing chemotherapy for six months while sailing normally in his personal life.

dean barker
dean barker

The America’s Cup

When Russell Coutts encouraged Barker to practise with Team New Zealand, it was his first exposure to the America’s Cup. Instead of going to San Diego, he decided to run for an Olympic position. Although he was not a part of the successful challenge, he joined the cup defence team on a long-term basis once it arrived in Auckland.

Since there was no defender’s series, Team New Zealand used intense internal racing to get ready for its cup defence. Barker’s match racing prowess quickly improved, and in these races, he took the helm of the “B Boat.” Despite the fact that the races were private and no scores were maintained, it soon became clear that he was at least competing fairly with Coutts.

With Coutts handing over control to Barker in the final race, Team New Zealand went on to successfully defend the 2000 Cup with a perfect 5-0 record. Following the 2000 Cup, there were numerous defections to other syndicates, most notably Coutts and Brad Butterworth to Alinghi, which led to Barker taking the captaincy position.

Team New Zealand was defeated by the Swiss boat Alinghi in the 2003 Americas Cup in a 5-0 series. Barker was chosen as skipper and helmsman for the 2007 challenge after the ensuing internal team review upheld his reputation.

One of the contenders for the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia was the rebranded Emirates Team New Zealand, with Barker serving as skipper and helmsman. Following the prior elimination of the other 9 challengers, Barker won the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, defeating the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge team 5-0 in the final. This victory marked the beginning of Team New Zealand’s mission to bring the Cup back to New Zealand. The Louis Vuitton Cup had never before been won without an opponent losing a race, hence this was a first. For the 32nd America’s Cup, this provided Emirates Team New Zealand and Barker the chance to compete against the Swiss challenger Alinghi.

Emirates Team New Zealand made sure that the 2007 America’s Cup scoreboard would not reflect a clean sweep victory for the first time in fifteen years by defeating Defender Alinghi in Race 2. Although many pundits thought Emirates Team New Zealand had an excellent chance to win, they lost the 2007 America’s Cup 2-5 races.

Alinghi, steered by fellow New Zealander Brad Butterworth, won the last race of the 2007 America’s Cup with a winning delta of 1 second. Overall, the racing for the cup was competitive.

In two America’s Cup defences and two challenges, Barker took part. His Finals record as a helmsman after the 2007 competition was 3 victories to 10 losses.

The Italian Luna Rossa Challenge squad was defeated 7-1 by Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup final, which was skippered by Barker once more. In race 7, he achieved a speed record of 47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph) for the Louis Vuitton/Cup. America’s

Following that, Barker and Team ETNZ challenged Americas Team Oracle in the 2013 Americas Cup Final but ultimately lost. At one stage in the final series, ETNZ had won six out of the first seven races, but finally fell short by a score of 9-8. the biggest comeback in America’s Cup competition. Between Barker and Team ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton, a gap began to form.

Dean Barker has an 11–15 record thus far in the America’s Cup Finals as the helmsman. Dean Barker will need one more America’s Cup series to break even since Emirates Team New Zealand needs just one more race victory to win the Cup.

In order to make room for a new helmsman, Peter Burling, and a new skipper, Australian sailor Glenn Ashby, Grant Dalton offered Barker a shore-based position in the early months of 2015. In place of accepting this job, Barker accepted the offer to become the CEO and skipper of a newly established Japanese syndicate.

On May 21, 2015, Softbank Team Japan’s challenger was introduced with Barker as CEO and captain.

The New York Yacht Club’s American Magic challenge for the 2021 America’s Cup was steered by Barker. Even though they had a good start in the qualification event, the team fell to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the semifinals of the 2021 Prada Cup.

Summary of Sailing Career

  • 1988: P-Class Tanner Cup (1st), P-Class Tauranga Cup (1st)
  • 1991: NZ Laser National Champs (1st)
  • 1993: Asian Pacific Laser Champs (1st), NZ Matchracing Champs (1st), world youth Laser champs (10th)
  • 1994: NZ Matchracing champs (1st)
  • 1995: NZ Matchracing champs (1st)
  • 1996: Finn class world ranking (15th), Olympic Finn class trials (5th), Kenwood Cup (3rd)
  • 1997: Steinlager Line 7 Cup (2nd), NZ Matchracing champs (2nd), Sydney-Hobart (9th)
  • 1998: Australia Cup (1st), ACI Cup Croatia (2nd), Swedish Match Cup (3rd), Kenwood Cup (1st)
  • 2001: ISAF World Matchracing champs (1st)
  • 2003: Skipper and helmsman of America’s Cup defender Team New Zealand (beaten 0–5 by challenger Alinghi)
  • 2004: Olympic Games, Finn class (13th)
  • 2005: Congressional Cup (1st)
  • 2006: MedCup TP52 circuit (2nd)
  • 2007: Louis Vuitton Cup winner and America’s Cup challenger (beaten 2–5 by defender Alinghi)
  • 2009: Louis Vuitton Pacific Series (1st)
  • 2009: Audi MedCup TP52 circuit (1st)
  • 2010: Audi MedCup TP52 circuit (1st)
  • 2010: Louis Vuitton Trophy (3 championship wins)
  • 2011: America’s Cup World Series
  • 2013: Louis Vuitton Cup winner and America’s Cup challenger
  • 2017: Louis Vuitton Cup skipper of the Softbank Team Japan
  • 2021: Prada Cup helmsman of the American Magic (beaten 0-4 in semifinals by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli)

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