Yachting: Blackman returns to helm of Team NZ

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Ross Blackman could not bear to stand aside and watch his old Team New Zealand syndicate taking on water.

So the former team manager, who had promised he would never return to the America's Cup, answered the SOS call from new leader Tom Schnackenberg and signed up yesterday as Team NZ's new chief executive.

Blackman, a Dunedin-born yachtie, was part of the management of New Zealand cup campaigns between 1988 and 1995 - and to Schnackenberg, the obvious man for the job.

"When Tom phoned I couldn't say no," Blackman said. "My wife and kids were dragged around the world for the America's Cup. A huge number of people did so much to get it here in the first place.

"I thought it would never leave New Zealand in my lifetime - they talked about setting up a dynasty. But all of a sudden, things started to fall apart, and I couldn't stand aside and watch."

In his new role, Blackman will run and co-ordinate everything but the design and sailing side of the syndicate. His emphasis will be on things commercial, co-ordinating the unenviable task of fundraising for the 2003 campaign.

He was commercial manager for the winning 95 team, but left to manage a property company in Auckland.

He has yet to work out what Team New Zealand's new budget will be, but realistically knows it will be influenced by the "international salary regime set up by the deep pockets overseas."

Schnackenberg is more than happy to have Blackman back on the team, relieving some of the pressure.

The pair have a 20-year friendship which began with a business partnership - the young sailmakers bringing the North Sails franchise to New Zealand.

Schnackenberg said Blackman is an expert at smoothing the waters - something that was missing in the sometimes rocky 2000 campaign.

Blackman is confident. "We happen to have the world matchracing champion on board, a wonderfully successful design team and we've still got the two fastest America's Cup boats in the world."

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