Team New Zealand's former America's cup skipper Dean Barker has signed with a Russian team for a series of European regattas while he ponders his future.
Dean Barker. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Barker has yet to announce whether he will accept the offer of a non-sailing role with Team New Zealand for the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda.
In the meantime he will sail as tactician for Russia's Team Nika, in the five round RC44 series which begins in Malta at the end of the month.
He will be sailing with another Team New Zealand crew member Jeremy Lomas, and another long-serving countryman Sean Clarkson.
Last month, Barker said he was "gutted" he had been dumped as sailing director and angry he heard about it through the media.
Team New Zealand's helmsman for 2017 in Bermuda will be either Peter Burling, 24, or sailing director, Glenn Ashby, 37.
