David John Barnes (born on 27 April 1958 in Wellington) is a New Zealand former America's Cup sailor.
Barnes attended Tawa College. He married Karen in 1986 and has three children Jason Sacha and Logan.
He skippered the KZ1 yacht which lost to the United States in the 1988 America's Cup race.
1973 Won the Tanner and Tauranga Cups PClass
1974 Won the National Championship Starling Class
1975 Third in World Youth Championship 420 Class
1976 Third in World Youth Championship Fireball Class
1976 Reserve for the Olympics 470 Class
1981 Won the World Championship 470 Class
1983 Won the World Championship 470 Class
1984 Won the World Championship 470 Class
1985 NZ America’s Cup Challenge in Perth / Skipper KZ5 / Alternate Helmsman KZ7
1987 Skipper for KZ7 / won the 12 metre Worlds in Sardinia
1988 NZ America’s Cup Challenge in San Diego / Skipper of KZ-1 New Zealand vs Dennis Conner’s catamaran Stars & Stripes US-1.
1992 NZ America’s Cup Challenge in San Diego / Tactician to Rod Davis / One of four directors for the campaign
1995 America’s Cup Challenge with One Australia / Testing Helmsman / Part of “Fluid Thinking” design team
1996 Employed by James Farmer QC / Organised and supervised construction of his Mumm 36 Keelboat / Skipper for the campaign
2000 America’s Cup Challenge with America True / Skippered one of the boats through the testing program / Conceptual Director
2003 America’s Cup Challenge with GBR / General Manager
Barnes was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 2013 he became involved with Kiwi Gold Sailing, a group of paralympians attempting to qualify a Sonar for the 2016 Paralympics. The team included fellow America's Cup veteran Rick Dodson. However, Barnes' condition later worsened and he withdrew from the team in 2014.