The former Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker has signed with the Russian outfit Team Nika to compete in this year's RC44 series.
The now former Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker at the helm of the Team's EX40 on day one of the Cardiff Extreme Sailing Series Regatta. 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Barker was dumped as Team New Zealand skipper last week, while Peter Burling took over as helmsman.
Barker has yet to announce whether he'll accept the offer of a non-sailing role with Team New Zealand for the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda.
Barker has now been signed up by the Russian team for the five-regatta single hull series.
The RC44 series website has Barker as Team Nika's new tactician.
He'll be sailing with another Team New Zealand crew member Jeremy Lomas, and another long-serving countryman Sean Clarkson.
The series starts in Malta at the end of this month.