KEVIN SHOEBRIDGE INDUCTED INTO THE AMERICA’S CUP HALL OF FAME
Emirates Team New Zealand COO Kevin Shoebridge has been inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. In his 10th America’s Cup campaign, Shoebridge is one of the most experienced and respected personalities in the America’s Cup and has been a cornerstone of the success of Emirates Team New Zealand throughout its history. It isn’t just America’s Cup racing that Shoebridge has excelled, throughout his enduring America’s Cup career Shoebridge has also completed 5 x Round the World races, winning it twice.
As described in his Hall of Fame induction description: Shoebridge is a four-time winner of the America's Cup. Vastly experienced, he is known for his quiet demeanour, clear communication, collaborative management style, and ability to get things done.
Kevin joined the New Zealand Challenge in 1986 as a sail trimmer for KZ-7 KIWI MAGIC for the 1987 America’s Cup cycle in Fremantle. The Kiwis had won 38 consecutive races in the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series before being beaten by Stars & Stripes in the Finals. It was the event that would capture the imagination of the New Zealand public and their interest in the America’s Cup.
In 1992 he sailed as a genoa trimmer aboard NZL-20, the New Zealand Challenge, which controversially did not progress beyond the Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
In his 3rd America’s Cup in 1995 Shoebridge was again back in a genoa trimmer role for New Zealand’s first historic America's Cup victory.
He and Team New Zealand won again in 2000 in Auckland, defeating Luna Rossa to achieve the first ever successful Cup defence outside the United States.
With Peter Blake's departure and the Kiwi team's partial breakup after the 2000 America's Cup,\
Kevin joined One World (USA) for the 2003 America's Cup in Auckland.
Following the 2003 loss, he re-joined Emirates Team New Zealand in May 2003, joining new CEO Grant Dalton as the team COO setting the strong management foundations of relentless pursuit to win the America’s Cup back for New Zealand.
In 2007 for the 32nd America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand again won the Louis Vuitton Cup and was the Challenger for the 2007 America’s Cup, Alinghi defeated the Kiwis 5-2.
As a co-leader of Emirates Team New Zealand, Kevin supervised the design, construction, sailing operations and logistics as the Cup transitioned after Valencia from monohulls to the AC72 wing-sailed foiling catamarans.
In 2013, Emirates Team New Zealand, under the continued leadership of Dalton and Shoebridge the became renowned for its innovative thinking and design which introduced foiling to the America’s Cup and would change the face of sailing for years to come.
Emirates Team New Zealand faced Oracle Team USA in the longest-ever America's Cup match, the outcome of which was decided by the 19th race with Oracle prevailing.
But that bitter loss did not stop Emirates Team New Zealand. Instead, the team returned with more innovations and determination. By using advanced performance prediction/simulation tools and cyclors, the team gained the winning edge in the 2017 America's Cup to finally claim the America’s Cup back for New Zealand.
Emirates Team New Zealand used the same performance tools to develop the radical AC75 foiling monohull class for the 2021 and 2024 America's Cups. The team successfully defended the Cup in 2021.
For the 37th America's Cup, Shoebridge, a 4 time winner of the America’s Cup and 4 time winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, remains the Chief Operations Officer—a leadership role he has held for 20 years helping to shape Emirates Team New Zealand into one of the most successful teams in America’s Cup history.
A well-deserved and well-earned acknowledgement to one of the most respected and enduring people in the America’s Cup community.
The other inductees into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame were: Bob Fisher, Joan Vila & Josh Belsky