Team New Zealand has confirmed that Dean Barker has been removed as team helmsman and will not take part in «the America's Cup» with the crew. His place will be replaced by Peter Burling.
«Kiwi» announced their decision today after refuting rumours eight days ago that Barker had been removed as skipper.
Barker himself says he was unaware of the team owners' decision, which he learned about from «newspapers», and is therefore extremely disappointed with the way he has been treated.
It's also reported that Barker was offered the position of technical manager and coach. However, the yachtsman said he hadn't received a formal offer and it wouldn't have suited him.
«Dean Barker has guided the TNZ crew in four America's Cups», one of which he won in 2000. Peter Burling, for his part, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and joined the New Zealanders in January 2014.
