Yachting: Cup rule murky on designer

Former Team New Zealand boss Tom Schnackenberg could be within the America's Cup rules to join Team Luna Rossa as a designer.

Schnackenberg was released from Emirates Team New Zealand in December after it was deemed his role had diminished to such an extent that the best solution was for him to leave the team.

In April Schnackenberg announced that he was taking legal action against the team, claiming they had hired him only to prevent him going to another team.

This week Team New Zealand announced they had reached a settlement with Schnackenberg that allowed him to join Luna Rossa Challenge.

The decision has sent many cup fans scurrying to the cup protocol, which states designers are allowed to work for only one competitor.

Already the America's Cup jury has ruled American designer Phil Kaiko cannot join the Spanish Challenge because he did some design work for Mascalzone Latino in the early stages of their 2007 campaign.

While it has not been revealed exactly what Schnackenberg's role is at Team Luna Rossa, one cup rules adviser told the Herald that he could join the Italian syndicate as a designer provided he can prove he never did any significant design work for Team New Zealand.

Schnackenberg has claimed he worked for Team New Zealand for only three months between August and October, during which time the syndicate was heavily involved in cup pre-regattas. Apart from that it is understood he had little to do with the team.

Regardless of whether Schnackenberg had any input into the design of Team New Zealand's new boats, he can technically be employed by Team Luna Rossa in a non-design capacity.

Although it would be strange to have someone with Schnackenberg's design nous not designing, it is conceivable he could be put on a reconnaissance-type role where he could analyse the designs of other teams and provide reports back to the Luna Rossa design team - something Team New Zealand may have agreed to.