bˈɑːɹkɚz fˈɜːst ˌɪntɹədˈʌkʃən tə ðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkəz kˈʌp wʌz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv wɛn ɹˈʌsəl kˈaʊts ɪnvˈaɪɾᵻd hˌɪm tə tɹˈeɪn wɪð tˈiːm nˈuː zˈiːlənd.
Barker's first introduction to the America's Cup was in 1995 when Russell Coutts invited him to train with Team New Zealand.