Schnackenberg sails away from Team New Zealand

Team New Zealand designer Tom Schnackenberg has parted ways with the Americas Cup syndicate. File picture / Alan Gibson

Former Team New Zealand boss Tom Schnackenberg has parted ways with the Americas Cup syndicate, Radio Sport reported today.

Schnackenberg, who was replaced as syndicate head by Grant Dalton in April 2003, was part of the design team but it was reported that his departure was due to changes within the syndicate.

Team New Zealand spokeman Warren Douglas said an expansion within design team meant Schnackenberg's role had diminished to the extent the board felt it was the best solution he go.

In the statement Douglas insisted the departure was mutually agreed to and amicable.

Schnackenberg headed the syndicate during their demoralising five-nil Cup defeat by Alinghi in March 2003 on the Hauraki Gulf after a series of equipment failures on the water.

He was also with Team New Zealand when they won the Americas Cup in 1995 and in San Diego for their successful defence five years later.

Dalton, managing director, said Schnackenberg had made a massive contribution to the team through the good and bad times, Radio Sport reported.

A report into Team New Zealand's disastrous Cup defence last year saw Schnackenberg shifted to the design team after it found the single most important reason for the loss was the management structure adopted after former skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth defected to Alinghi.

"The most critical weakness was that no one individual had a total overview of where the team was at and final responsibility for and authority over decision making," the report said.

Neither Schnackenberg or Dalton were available for comment.

- NZPA