America's Cup Team NZ confirm Barker split

Team New Zealand on Tuesday confirmed that former America's Cup skipper Dean Barker had left the syndicate after being told he would not lead the next campaign to win yachting's oldest trophy.
Barker skippered Team New Zealand in 2013 when they blew an 8-1 lead to lose the final 8-9 against Oracle Team USA in what has been described as one of the greatest chokes in sporting history.
The syndicate announced last month that rising star Peter Burling, 24, would lead the bid to win the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda, with Barker saying he was "gutted" at the decision.
Team NZ said at the time that Barker had been offered a management role in the syndicate but confirmed on Tuesday he had rejected the job and decided to move on.
"We are disappointed that we have lost Dean from the team and hold him in the highest regard, but he has made it clear throughout this restructure process that he saw he was best suited to a role on the water as skipper or sailing director," syndicate chairman Keith Turner said in a statement.
Team NZ have been one of the leading contenders in the America's Cup in recent decades, winning in 1995 and 2000, then losing the final in three of the four regattas since.
Source: AFP