Regatta hailed as boon for New Zealand

3/1/2009

At a time when the global economy is slowing, yachting may be just the thing to put some wind back in the sails of the New Zealand economy, Emirates Team New Zealand chief executive Ross Blackman (1967-71) says.

Ross was back in Dunedin over Christmas visiting his father Gainor (1937) and oozed enthusiasm about the year ahead for Team New Zealand.

Ross and Jo Blackman in Dunedin over Christmas

The ‘‘hiatus’’ in the America’s Cup created by court proceedings about where and when the next event will be held has caused many yachting fans to lose interest in the sport. However, Ross hoped the new Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, to be raced in Waitemata Harbour from January 31 to February 14 would not only ‘‘ramp up interest’’ in the sport, but bring money to New Zealand.

‘‘There is no question that it will bring an injection of money to the New Zealand economy. It will have quite an impact on New Zealand. How much? I don’t know.’’

Twelve teams will compete. Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle would each provide two boats for the 10 other America’s Cup teams to race.

He described the event as a ‘‘summer festival’’ with entertainment which would draw media and yachting fans from New Zealand and abroad.

‘‘It’s a fill-in while the America’s Cup is getting sorted out.’’

Ross campaigned for eight years to win the America’s Cup for New Zealand and continues to lead the team in its bid to regain yachting’s most prestigious prize.

He developed a love for sailing while living in Dunedin, later trained as a sail maker and ultimately established a North Sails franchise with Tom Schnackenberg. He was part of the first America’s Cup challenge when Schnackenberg asked him to join Sir Michael Fay’s team as sail loft manager, was part of the 1992 New Zealand America’s Cup Challenge as business manager and was one of the three founding managers of Team New Zealand’s successful 1995 campaign.

Since July last year, Ross has been on ‘‘sabbatical’’ from America’s Cup duties and has been sailing around the Mediterranean, North Africa and Turkey with his wife, Jo.