Dean Barker joins the crew at Kiwi Yachting
'Dean Barker skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand has become a significant shareholder in Kiwi Yachting Consultants.'
Richard
Gladwell
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While his next five to ten years will be dominated by the America's Cup, Dean Barker has demonstrated his long-term commitment to New Zealand's marine industry by becoming a significant shareholder of Kiwi Yachting Consultants.
Established by Richard Macalister 20 years ago, Kiwi Yachting Consultants is a leading supplier of marine products based in Grey Lynn, Auckland. The company represents many world-leading brands and is structured to provide customers with a complete service - system design, sourcing, installation, maintenance, repair and replacement. While Kiwi Yachting's primary focus is on supplying large ocean racers and cruisers, as an importer of Extreme Optimist hulls the company also supports yachting at its most basic level.
Dean Barker's professional sailing experience will be a natural extension to the knowledge base that already exists within the business. 'Kiwi Yachting started in the 1980s on the back of my professional sailing career, which helped to bring boat-building contracts down here. Dean's involvement will attract a new wave of customers to the New Zealand industry', says Richard Macalister.
One pet project that Richard is keen to share with Dean is the development of an Auckland Farr Platu 25 racing series. 'There's been grumbling in the local industry that there's no international one design yacht racing here', he says. 'Kiwi Yachting is helping to establish a fleet in New Zealand, to get a bit more international racing action on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf.'
As much as his Emirates Team New Zealand commitments will allow, Dean will be an active participant in the company. 'I think it's a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the marine industry', he says. 'I've always been passionate about sailing, and this way I can contribute to the long-term future of New Zealand's success on the water.'
Dean stresses that he has strong ties to New Zealand and has never wanted to move permanently offshore. 'I began sailing in Optimists', he says, 'so the fact that Kiwi Yachting imports them kind of completes the circle. I like that the company is diversified and touches all levels of sailing.'
A lull in America's Cup activity will allow Dean to spend time at Kiwi Yachting Consultants. It's his aim to learn the business from the ground up, so that the company can continue with its winning business model - 'a yachting company run by professional yachties'.
by Kiwi Yachting PR 
