Shoebridge signs up as Team NZ operations manager

Returning Team New Zealand member Kevin Shoebridge says he feels like part of a fresh start at the America's Cup yachting syndicate.

Shoebridge, who sailed for American challengers OneWorld in last summer's cup regatta in Auckland, has been appointed to the key position of operations manager.

His job will be to co-ordinate the departments within the organisation.

An internal review after Team NZ's loss of the cup in March blamed poor management structure as a key reason for the crushing 5-0 defeat by Swiss challengers Alinghi.

Team NZ, under new managing director Grant Dalton and a new board, are expected to decide by March whether to challenge for the Auld Mug in Europe in 2007.

Shoebridge said he could not comment on the syndicate's woes last time around because he was not involved.

"But it feels very much like a fresh start here," he said.

"We're looking at every single area with a totally open mind."

His role would be to ensure efficiency in the team, that would increase to 100 people.

Shoebridge is the latest key signing at Team NZ. Others include Briton Andy Claughton as design co-ordinator, skipper Dean Barker, former syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg and executives Ross Blackman and Tony Thomas, who were all part of the 2003 defence.

"This period now is one of the most important, as we put all the important pieces of the puzzle together and get the right people," Shoebridge said.

"Although things are mostly happening behind the scenes at the moment, we are making some pretty big decisions that are going to affect how we get on in four years' time."

If Team NZ do challenge again, Shoebridge, 40, will be involved in his sixth America's Cup regatta.

The Aucklander was on the crew of KZ7 for New Zealand's first foray in Fremantle in 1986-87, and also sailed in the last Sir Michael Fay-led challenge in San Diego in 1992.

He was part of Team NZ's weather programme during their triumph off southern California in 1995 and again in their successful defence in Auckland in 2000.

He then left Team NZ to skipper Tyco in the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race.

His departure was not surrounded by the same acrimony as that of skipper Russell Coutts, tactician Brad Butterworth and other sailors who switched to Alinghi.

"I left for different reasons and so I didn't get into that nasty mix," he said.

"I left to go to my Volvo programme and talked to Team NZ openly about it.

"It was just fortunate for me that I could come back at a very late stage and sail with OneWorld."

Shoebridge has competed in five Whitbread or Volvo round-the-world contests, three times with Dalton in the same boat.

Dalton said his former crewmate's background made him the right person for the job of operations manager.

Dalton, Blackman and Thomas will meet potential sponsors in the United States and Japan next month and in September.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup