The sailors are fine, the wing of the test catamaran less so: Skipper Dean Barker and his SoftBank Team Japan escaped with a scare when their wing broke during training off Bermuda. The pictures show how easily injuries could have occurred in the dramatic moments when a section of the wing sail broke out of the structure in the upper wind range of around 30 knots permitted for the AC45 catamarans.
"Fortunately, there were no injuries and we managed to bring the boat safely back to harbour," said Barker, who also wanted to recognise an advantage in the technical failure of the wing sail. It is important for success next year to find out how much load can be placed on the boat and the wing. His team intends to resume its training and testing programme this weekend.
Barker and three other New Zealanders moved from Emirates Team New Zealand to SoftBank Team Japan last year after Barker was replaced as helmsman by New Zealand high-flyer, world champion and Olympic gold medallist Peter Burling. Their team trains regularly with the American Cup defenders.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
