Dean Raymond Barker (born 8 April 1973) is a New Zealand yachtsman. He is best known internationally for his participation in America's Cup yacht races. Early life and family Barker was born in 1973 in Takapuna, New Zealand. Barker's father is the New Zealander Ray Barker of the Barkers Clothing retail chain. Dean Barker was educated at Westlake Boys High School. Barker married former New Zealand field hockey representative Mandy Smith in February 2004. They have four children, three daughters; Mia, Olivia & Isla and one son Matteo. Dean Barker is also a major shareholder in Kiwi Yachting Consultants. Early sailing career Barker sailed from an early age, starting out in Optimist and P Class boats, before graduating to Lasers and Finns. Olympic Games 1996 – Unsuccessfully trialed to represent New Zealand in the Finn for the 1996 Olympic Games. 2000 – Did not participate in the New Zealand selection trials due to America's Cup commitments. 2004 – Represented New Zealand in the Finn finishing 13th out of 25 competitors America’s Cup Barker's first introduction to the America's Cup was in 1995 when Russell Coutts invited him to train with Team New Zealand. He opted for an Olympic campaign rather than to travel to San Diego. Although he was not involved in the successful challenge, he became a permanent member of the cup defense team once the cup was in Auckland. Because there was no defender's series Team New Zealand used high intensity in-house racing to prepare for its cup defense. Barker's skill as a match racer rapidly developed and he became skipper of the "B Boat" in these races. Although the racing was not public, and scores were not kept, it became apparent that he was at least holding his own with Coutts. Team New Zealand went on to successfully defend the 2000 Cup 5–0, with Coutts relinquishing his normal helming role to Barker in the last race. After the 2000 cup there were multiple defections to other syndicates, most notably Coutts and Brad Butterworth to Alinghi and as a result Barker became skipper. In the 2003 Americas Cup, the Swiss boat Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand in a 5–0 series. The subsequent internal team review left Barker's reputation intact and he was selected as skipper and helmsman for the 2007 challenge. The renamed Emirates Team New Zealand, with Barker as skipper and helmsman, was one of the challengers