Team New Zealand has confirmed Dean Barker has been dumped as its helmsman.
Last week, the America's Cup challenger denied reports Barker had been dropped as helmsman but, in a statement, said it had now completed a restructuring process following the unsuccessful bid to win the trophy in San Francisco in 2013.
Dean Barker will no longer be at the helm of Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: Photosport
The statement said Glenn Ashby, who was a wing trimmer at the San Francisco campaign, had been appointed sailing director and he and Peter Burling will take on helming duties.
Ashby is a multiple world and Australian champion in three multihull classes while Burling is current world Moth and, with Blair Tuke, 49er champion.
Peter Burling is to take over at the helm of Team New Zealand. Photo: Photosport
Barker, who's helmed in four America's Cup campaigns, has been formally offered a role as performance manager and sailing coach and Team New Zealand is now awaiting his response.
The statement said the review process clearly identified the need for such a role and there have been discussions with Barker about the role since November.
Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton said: "We're hoping to retain Dean's 20 years of America's Cup experience in Emirates Team New Zealand but we also acknowledge it is time for new blood to be given the chance at the helm of the country's challenger."
The statement went on to say the announcement of Bermuda as the venue for the next America's Cup series had a serious impact on the team's finances and sponsorship funding, reducing the budget by $20 million.
This has meant the team has had to reduce its remuneration budget and each team member has, as a result, taken a significant pay cut.
Additionally, several million dollars has been cut from the operations budget leading to the scrapping of one of the foiling AC45s that it has planned to use and, consequently, the elimination of one of the planned helmsman positions.
The first America's Cup World Series regatta in the AC45s is scheduled to take place at Cagliari, Italy in June.
Emirates Team New Zealand battled it out against Oracle Team USA in 2013 but lost the series. Photo: AFP
News of Burling replacing Barker was leaked last week and the team says it would have been unfair to all involved, and therefore inappropriate, to comment on the various reports until the review process was completed.
