America's Cup: Schnack walks plank

Tom Schnackenberg

The evolution of the new Team New Zealand continued yesterday with the dumping of design guru Tom Schnackenberg.

Managing director Grant Dalton said in a statement that the board had decided when considering the resources for the 2007 challenge that Schnackenberg's role had diminished to such an extent that the best solution was for him to leave the team.

"Tom Schnackenberg has made a massive contribution to New Zealand's America's Cup teams through good times and bad," Dalton said.

"It is a testimony to Tom, and a graphic demonstration of how the America's Cup design process has evolved, that the roles he once filled alone are now the responsibility of several people."

Schnackenberg refused to comment last night, but in the same statement said that the evolution and expansion of the team's design capability meant that many of the functions he once performed were now occupied by people in fulltime positions, which had reduced his role to that of an adviser.

The parting, which is understood to be amicable, wasn't entirely surprising.

The culture within the Emirates-sponsored syndicate has changed since Dalton was appointed managing director in April last year.

He has gripped the syndicate with both hands and has shown he is unafraid to make changes and is not bound by anything or anyone.

Although Dalton had been critical of Schnackenberg's tendency to be indecisive, there did not appear to be any obvious friction between the pair.

Schnackenberg's demise may simply be the result of a new team going forward, and he may not be the last to go.

The cup protocol, which was changed to prevent Russell Coutts from joining another team following his sacking from Alinghi, will also stop Schnackenberg from joining another syndicate.

One of the best-known names in the America's Cup, Schnackenberg was involved in nine cup campaigns, the first as a sail designer on Enterprise in 1977.

He was part of the successful Australia II campaign in 1983 and was with the New Zealand challenge in 1988.

He joined Spirit of Australia in 1992 before signing with Team New Zealand as a design co-ordinator and navigator for its successful 1995 campaign and then the 2000 defence.

His mathematical mind and design knowledge are legendary in sailing circles.

"Mr America's Cup", Dennis Conner, once said Schnackenberg had "the best brain in yachting", while former French cup skipper Bruno Trouble refers to Schnackenberg as the "guru of the America's Cup today".

Following the defections of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth to Alinghi, Schnackenberg was cast into the role of syndicate head for the 2003 defence.

He was the face at the forefront of the devastating 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Alinghi.

The independent report into the disastrous defence identified the management structure as the most important reason for the loss.

As a result, veteran around-the-world yachtsman Dalton was brought in to head the syndicate and Schnackenberg was moved into the design team headed by Britain's Andy Claughton.

Clearly still hurting over the America's Cup loss, Schnackenberg has remained in the shadows ever since.

In the recent pre-regattas in Valencia, he was on the chase boat, loading and unloading sails, while key design team members Claughton and Clay Oliver were at work elsewhere.

At the time of his appointment Dalton said Schnackenberg's knowledge would be invaluable for the team.

"His knowledge is huge. He is a teacher for me and for Dean [Barker, the Team NZ skipper] and all the guys. I know he is interested in getting back in sails."

Dalton yesterday wished Schnackenberg well for the future.