Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas William Schnackenberg (born 11 May 1945) 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.
Schnackenberg attended Auckland Grammar School before gaining a masters in physics from the University of Auckland and the University of British Columbia.
Schnackenberg was first involved with the 1977 America's Cup as a sail designer for Enterprise.
He was involved with as a sail designer for Australia in the 1980 America's Cup before being promoted to sail co-ordinator for Australia II in the 1983 America's Cup. Australia II won the cup, becoming the first team to defeat the New York Yacht Club. Schnackenberg was again the sail co-ordinator for Australia III and Australia IV's unsuccessful defence of the America's Cup in 1987 before joining New Zealand Challenge to help design KZ1 for the 1988 America's Cup. He was a part of the Spirit of Australia challenge at the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup before joining Team New Zealand as the design co-ordinator and navigator for their victory at the 1995 America's Cup. 1995 was his first on-board role at an America's Cup. During this period, he also coached the New Zealand yachting team for the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996.
He remained with Team New Zealand for their defence at the 2000 America's Cup and was promoted to syndicate head for the unsuccessful 2003 America's Cup defence, where he was credited as a designer of NZL 82. He remained with the team for the 2007 America's Cup, working as a design and data analyst.
In 2001 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering be the University of Auckland. Schnackenberg has been awarded both an OBE (as part of the 1995 Birthday Honours) and the Order of Australia medal.
Schnackenberg worked with Artemis Racing in the lead up to the 2013 America's Cup as their head of performance and design.