The CYC Speakers’ Series

by Mark Leonard

Paul Cayard, one of the best racing sailors of our time, spoke to the CYC on October 8 as the latest installment in the CYC Speaker’s Series. Having won world championships in the Star class (1988), One-Tons, ILC 40s, first in the Whitbread Round the World Race, and having competed in 5 America’s Cups, Paul told the 180 people in the audience that it’s about time that he goes for the gold! Paul spoke eloquently about his effort to represent the USA in the Athens Olympics in 2004 in the Star class.

He has just returned from the Pre-Olympics in Athens, where he took a silver medal, and the Star Worlds, where he took eighth. [Paul just won the Star North Americans, held this past week in San Francisco Bay]. Paul acknowledged that competing in the Stars is physically extremely demanding, and that he has hired an Olympic weight-training coach to help him put on another 20 pounds of muscle. He also thought it a touch ironic that most Star competitors are trying to win so they can get noticed and perhaps be picked up by an America’s Cup team, whereas for Paul, this is the first time in a long time that he’s paying for his own sailing!

Paul also shared video and stories from his 1st place finish aboard EF Language in the 1998 Whitbread Round the World Race. On EF, 9 of the 12 crew (which included last month’s speaker Mark Rudiger) had never sailed the race, so the pre-race odds of them placing well were judged to be very low. Paul shared some very frightening stories, and talked candidly about the psychology that it ultimately took to win this prestigious race.

Paul also hinted that there would be an America’s Cup challenge in his future, and for us to stay tuned.

Finally, Paul shared fond memories of the Corinthian Yacht Club, because one of his first racing experiences took place here when he skippered the family sailboat, and his mom was his crew when he about 13 years old.