Sailors to steer Team NZ boat's design

By JULIE ASH

Servants rather than masters is how Emirates Team New Zealand's design co-ordinator Andy Claughton views the role of the syndicate's new design team.

The review of the disastrous 2003 defence concluded the approach - design-led rather than sailor-led - was one of its major failings.

"The whole aim of the programme is to get the ownership of the design back into the sailing team," Claughton said.

"We are trying to run a more integrated approach this time. We want much more dialogue from the sailors through to the designers through to the sail designers."

Russell Coutts' contribution to the design process both for Team NZ and Alinghi has been seen as a major factor in their successes.

"He is a one-off," Claughton said. In 1995 and 2000 he was vocal about the kind of boat he wanted ... he understood the mechanics of how boats work. We don't have one guy but we have to find among the sailing team a voice or voices that will drive us to a conclusion they like.

"My aim is to give the sailors the fastest boat they are happy to use."

With 14 designers already contracted Claughton said the "major players were in place".

Key appointments include Italian Giovanni Belgrano, Spain's Marcelino Botin, Britain's Vincent Geake and Japan's Masanobu Katori.

Belgrado has worked on many projects including Il Moro and Prada 2000. Botin is widely recognised as a leading designer in Europe.

Katori is an experienced navigator with a background in software and Geake an accomplished offshore navigator.

Former syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg remains part of the team in the area of design and data analysis.

The syndicate has chosen to release Mike Drummond, who had been involved in every New Zealand challenge since 1987 and who was was largely credited for the success of NZL60, and retain American Clay Oliver, who was given much of the credit for the hula concept.

Claughton said the failure of NZL82 did not mean the syndicate was already on the back foot.

Acquiring the use of the former illbruck boat GER68, designed by Michael Richelson now with Alinghi, had given them "a little bit of a window into what other people have been thinking about".

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup