Tom Schnackenberg
{{short description|New Zealand sailor and yacht designer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}}
Thomas William Schnackenberg {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=85%}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM|size=85%}} (born 11 May 1945){{cite web |author=Suzanne McFadden |date=20 August 2002 |title=And then there was one – Tom Schnackenberg |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=2350337 |accessdate=30 June 2017 |publisher=The New Zealand Herald }} is a New Zealand sailor and yacht designer best known for his involvement with the America's Cup. He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2000.
Early life and education
Schnackenberg attended Auckland Grammar School before earning a master's degree in physics from the University of Auckland and enrolling for a Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia.
Having served in the Auckland Grammar School Sea Cadets, Schnackenberg joined the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), later acquiring a commission as a Reserve officer at HMNZS Ngapona.
Career in Sailing
Schnackenberg joined North Sails in 1974 and was first involved with the 1977 America's Cup as a sailmaker for US-27 "Enterprise", skippered by Lowell North.{{cite web |title=Grant Dalton introduces the team – Scoop News |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0406/S00091.htm |website=Scoop.co.nz}} He returned to New Zealand in 1978 to establish a branch of North Sails there.
= America's Cup Involvement =
1980: Designed sails for Australia
1983: Sail coordinator for Australia II (victorious)
1987: Sail coordinator for Australia III and Australia IV (unsuccessful defense)
1988: Joined New Zealand Challenge, helped design KZ1{{cite web |date=16 September 2013 |title=Eight Months to Mars – Tom Schnackenberg – Jesse Mulligan, 1–4pm, 1:20 pm on 16 September 2013 |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2569449/eight-months-to-mars-tom-schnackenberg |website=Radionz.co.nz}}
1992: Part of Spirit of Australia challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup
1995: Design coordinator and navigator for Team New Zealand (victorious)
2000: Continued with Team New Zealand (successful defense)
2003: Promoted to syndicate head for Team New Zealand (unsuccessful defense)
2007: Performance data analyst for Luna Rossa Challenge{{cite web |title=America's Cup: Schnack walks plank |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/americas-cup-schnack-walks-plank/IKCVNY5A4DYYCLAFFFLLRKQQ4Q/}}{{cite web |title=Schnackenberg speaks on Team NZ departure |url=https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Schnackenberg-speaks-on-Team-NZ-departure/-18048?source=google}}
2010: Part of Alinghi team{{cite web |title=Yachting: 'Schnack' heads design for Cup holder |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/yachting-schnack-heads-design-for-cup-holder/VWDSFL72OV4BOQP2IMXDGCFURM/}}
2013: Data analyst for Artemis Racing{{cite web |title=Auckland engineers boost America's Cup crews – The University of Auckland |url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news-events-and-notices/news/news-2013/2013/09/19/Auckland-engineers-boost-Americas-Cup-crews.html |accessdate=21 August 2017 |website=Auckland.ac.nz}}{{cite web |title=Artemis Racing |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/americas-cup-team-news/artemis-racing-5462284 |accessdate=21 August 2017 |website=Tvnz.co.nz}}
= Olympic Involvement =
Schnackenberg coached the New Zealand yachting team for the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996, and 2000.{{cite web |title=Famous past students – The University of Auckland |url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/future-undergraduates/living-and-studying-in-auckland-1/why-choose-auckland-1/meet-our-students-and-teachers/famous-past-students-1.html#e7740f39573bd67542d24da78dc48a37 |website=Auckland.ac.nz}}
Honours and Awards
1984: Honorary Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service as sail coordinator in the 1983 America's Cup challenge{{cite news |date=26 January 1984 |title=Australia Day 1984 honours |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240630981?searchTerm=schnackenberg%20medal |accessdate=7 September 2020 |work=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |page=1 |issue=S22}}
1995: Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to yachting{{cite web |date=19 October 2012 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 1995 |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-1995 |accessdate=6 September 2020 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet}}
2001: Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Auckland{{cite book |url=https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/calendar/archive/2002-calendar.pdf |title=University of Auckland Calendar 2002 |page=633 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}
2001: Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of British Columbia{{cite web |title=Honorary Degrees – Chronological | University Archives Blog |url=https://archives.library.ubc.ca/heraldry-congregation-graduation/honorary-degrees-conferred-by-ubc/honorary-degrees-chronological/}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:New Zealand male sailors (sport)
Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Honorary recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
Category:Team New Zealand sailors
Category:People educated at Auckland Grammar School
Category:University of British Columbia Faculty of Science alumni
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:2003 America's Cup sailors
Category:2000 America's Cup sailors
Category:1995 America's Cup sailors
Category:New Zealand yacht designers
Category:America's Cup yacht designers
Category:Artemis Racing sailors