Paul Cayard

❧

Wikipedia

Paul Cayard
Personal information
Full namePaul Pierre Cayard
Born (1959-05-19) May 19, 1959 (age 66)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Sport
Sailing career
ClassStar
ClubSt. Francis Yacht Club
Medal record
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1988 Buenos AiresStar class
Bronze medal – third place1984 VilamouraStar class
Bronze medal – third place1985 NassauStar class
Bronze medal – third place1987 ChicagoStar class
Bronze medal – third place1992 San FranciscoStar class
Bronze medal – third place2018 Oxford, MarylandStar class
Bronze medal – third place2022 Marblehead, MassachusettsStar class
Gold medal – first place2025 Split, CroatiaStar class

Paul Pierre Cayard (born May 19, 1959) is an American yachtsman and professional sailor. He has competed at multiple world championship level sailing events, including the America's Cup, the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race and the Olympic Games. In 1998, he was selected as the US Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year. He has won seven world championships, twice participated in the Olympic Games and seven times in the America's Cup. In 2011, he was elected into the US Sailing Hall of Fame.

Biography

Paul Cayard was born May 19, 1959, in San Francisco, California.[1] His father, Pierre, was a carpenter at the San Francisco Opera.[2] Cayard began sailing in 1967, at the age of eight. Cayard attended Crestmore High School.[3] He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1981, with a degree in Business Management.[4]

Sailing career

At the age of 14, Cayard became North American champion in the El Toro dinghy.[2] Cayard showed great promise as a sailor and by his early teens was successfully sailing high performance dinghies such as the International 505 and Laser (dinghy). As Cayard grew and became more proficient in sailing, he gained the notice of Tom Blackaller who invited Cayard to crew for him on his Star class sailboat. Blackaller would become an influential mentor and the Star class would become a lifelong passion for Cayard.

In 1984, Cayard was selected as an alternate in the Olympic Games for the US sailing team. Sailing in the Star class, he won the silver medal at the pre-Olympic regatta in 2003, going on to finish 5th at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

America's Cup

Teams meeting the press before the 1992 America's Cup

Cayard's first America's Cup was in 1983 aboard Tom Blackaller's Defender as a jib trimmer. Defender finished third in the defender selection series. For the 1987 America's Cup series, Cayard moved up to tactician and alternate helmsman on Blackaller's new boat USA, which lost out to Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes for the right to challenge for the cup.[5]

For the 1992 America's Cup, Cayard was manager and skipper of Il Moro di Venezia from Italy, a syndicate backed by Raul Gardini. In 1991, he won the first ever International America's Cup Class world championship. Over the months long challenger selection series, Cayard's team beat out seven other teams from six other countries to win the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup and gain the right to challenge for the America's Cup. Part of the challenge included protests where Cayard successfully protested the employment of a bowsprit on the New Zealand challenge.

Though Il Moro di Venezia was outclassed in the America's Cup races by the faster America³, Cayard's expertise in sailing provided some memorable moments. In the second race of the series, his yacht won the start and maintained a small lead for the entire race. He employed classic match racing tactics throughout the race and at the downwind finish managed to beat America³ by three seconds, producing what was at the time the smallest winning margin in America's Cup history. Il Moro however, went on to lose this series 4–1.

In 1995, Cayard joined an American effort for the America's Cup with Team Dennis Conner Stars & Stripes as primary helmsman. Though Stars & Stripes was noticeably slower than other boats on the defender series, the syndicate managed to win the 1995 Citizen Cup for the right to defend the Cup. In an unprecedented move, Team Dennis Conner decided to use the faster yacht Young America from the PACT 95 syndicate to defend the Cup. Cayard and this syndicate ended up losing the Cup 5–0 to Team New Zealand, who had won the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup.

With the change in venue and hemisphere for the Cup, the next America's Cup was not held until 2000. For the 2000 America's Cup, Cayard formed his own syndicate with backing from a number of sponsors and named it AmericaOne. The sponsoring yacht club was St. Francis Yacht Club of San Francisco. This syndicate competed against 14 challengers from 10 nations for the right to challenge for the Cup. AmericaOne reached the finals of the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup racing against Prada for the right to challenge against Team New Zealand for the 2000 America's Cup. The final over the best of nine races was hotly contested, with neither yacht ever winning by more than two minutes. Prada won the first race, and AmericaOne the second. Prada went on to win the next two races, putting AmericaOne at a 3–1 disadvantage. AmericaOne then proceeded to win the next three races in a row and appeared on the brink of winning the Louis Vuitton Cup. However, equipment fatigue and failure proved decisive, several spinnakers were blown out, and Prada ended up winning the next two races and the series, 5–4, earning the right to challenge for the Cup. Prada ultimately lost in the America's Cup, 5–0 to the defender Team New Zealand.[6]

Following the conclusion of the 2000 America's Cup, Cayard recommended to the AmericaOne syndicate board of trustees that the syndicate should not compete for the 2003 America's Cup, citing significant financial and recruiting obstacles. Assets of AmericaOne were eventually sold to Larry Ellison who founded the Oracle Racing syndicate, later joining forces with BMW Racing to form Oracle BMW Racing, with Cayard as skipper. Cayard later was moved out of the skipper position into an administrative position and ultimately left the syndicate.[7][8]

Offshore racing

Pirates of the Caribbean winning the ultimate leg of the 2005–06 Volvo Ocean Race

Cayard has competed in a broad range of ocean racing events with an impressive record. He won the 1994 Kenwood Cup, the 1994 and 1996 Sardinia Cup and the 1995 Admirals Cup. His top achievement in this arena was becoming the first American to win the Whitbread Round the World in 1997–98 as skipper of EF Language. He beat out ten other yachts for the prize over a course of 32,000 miles (51,000 km).

In the 2005–06 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, Cayard competed as skipper of the Pirates of the Caribbean syndicate sponsored by The Walt Disney Company in reference to the movie of the same name. Cayard Sailing Inc. managed the team which won the final leg into Gothenburg to finish the overall race in second place.

Other sailing roles

Cayard in 2011

In March 2007, Cayard was involved in the 2007 America's Cup as technical advisor to Desafio Espanol 2007. Cayard also commentated on the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup and on the 2007 America's Cup for La7, the Italian broadcast rights holder. On October 12, 2007, Cayard announced that he was joining Desafio Espanol as sports director for the 33rd America's Cup.

In 2007, Cayard and Russell Coutts announced the launch of the World Sailing League (WSL) in partnership with internationally renowned Portuguese sports promoter João Lagos. The WSL was to have been held at premier sailing locations around the world with the series winner receiving $2 million in prize money. For the 33rd America's Cup, Cayard provided commentary for Eurosport.

In 2009, Cayard joined Artemis Racing owned by Torbjörn Törnqvist. Cayard was the skipper of the Louis Vuitton Trophy team and tactician onboard TP52 Artemis. Artemis Racing became the Challenger of Record for the 34th America's Cup in 2010 with Cayard as CEO. Cayard also helmed RC44 Katusha on the RC44 Championship Tour from 2010 to 2012.

From 2019 to 2020, he served as chairman of the board for St. Francis Yacht Club. He is an ambassador for Rolex and the One Ocean Foundation.

In 2020, Cayard was the first sailor to be inducted into the Class of 2020 for the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF)[9]

Cayard became the vice president of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA) in 2020.[10] Cayard's tenure as executive director of the US sailing team came to an end in February 2023.[11][12] In 2023, he was elected president of ISCYRA, replacing Tom Londrigan.[10]

Personal life

Cayard married to Icka Petterson, daughter of Swedish sailor Pelle Petterson, in 1985 and have two children together.[3] The couple divorced in 2010.

Cayard is a member of four international yacht clubs; St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Yacht Club de Monaco.[4]

He speaks three languages: English, French and Italian. He enjoys flying and holds a pilots certification with instrument rating for both single and multi engine aircraft. Of all his sailing accomplishments, he counts his 1988 Star Class World Championship as his most prized victory.[4]

Achievements

As of September 27, 2015[13]
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEvent
1978Star World ChampionshipsSan Francisco, United States4thStar class
1979Star World ChampionshipsMarstrand, Sweden17thStar class
1984Star World ChampionshipsVilamoura, Portugal3rdStar class
1985Star World ChampionshipsNassau, Bahamas3rdStar class
1987Star World ChampionshipsChicago, United States3rdStar class
1988Star World ChampionshipsBuenos Aires, Argentina1stStar class
1991IACC World ChampionshipSan Diego, United States1stAmerica's Cup
IOR 50 World ChampionshipMiura, Japan1stIntl. 50' Class
1992IYRU Match Racing World ChampionshipsLong Beach, United States5thMatch racing
Star World ChampionshipsSan Francisco, United States3rdStar class
1996Star World ChampionshipsRio de Janeiro, Brazil4thStar class
2002Star World ChampionshipsMarina del Rey, United States4thStar class
Farr 40 World ChampionshipsParadise Island, Bahamas6thFarr 40 class
2003ISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsCádiz, Spain8thStar class
2004Star World ChampionshipsGaeta, Italy5thStar class
Olympic GamesAthens, Greece5thStar class
2005Star Western Hemisphere ChampionshipsNassau, Bahamas1stStar class
2009505 World ChampionshipsSan Francisco, United States6th505 class
TP52 World ChampionshipsPalma de Mallorca, Spain3rdTP52 class
2010RC44 World ChampionshipsYaiza, Spain4thRC44 class
TP52 World ChampionshipsValencia, Spain4thTP52 class
2017Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States1stStar class
2018Star World ChampionshipsOxford, United States3rdStar class
Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States1stStar class
2019Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States5thStar class
2021Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States1stStar class
2022Star World ChampionshipsMarblehead, United States3rdStar class
Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States3rdStar class
2023Star Vintage Gold CupRichland, United States7thStar class
2024Star World ChampionshipsSan Diego, United States4thStar class
2025Star World ChampionshipsSplit, Crotia1stStar class
  • Won the El Toro class North American championship in the under 18 category in 1975.
  • Won the Star World Championship in 1988.[14]
  • Won the Maxi class world championship in 1988 aboard Il Moro di Venezia III.
  • Won the 1989 One Ton class world championship.
  • Won the 1991 50-foot world championship aboard Abracadabra in Japan.
  • 1991 Yachting magazine Yachtsman of the Year.
  • Won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992.
  • 1992 Rothmans Yachtsman of the Year.
  • Won the Citizens Cup in 1995 for the right to defend the America's Cup.
  • Won 1994 and 1996 Sardinia Cup (ocean racing)
  • Won 1994 Kenwood Cup (ocean racing)
  • Won the 1995 Admiral's Cup (ocean racing)
  • Won the 1996 International Level Class 40 world championship.
  • Won the 1999 Steinlager Cup.
  • Won the 1997/98 Whitbread Round the World Race (now known as the Volvo Ocean Race) as skipper of the Swedish entry EF Language.
  • 1998 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.
  • Won 2002 IMS world championship in Capri, Italy.
  • 2005–2006 Skippered 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in the Volvo Ocean Race, placing 2nd overall.
  • Tactician on board John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti, winner of the Farr 40 North American Championships 2004, US National Championships 2004, Pacific Coast Championships 2004, and West Coast Season Championships 2004.
  • 2010 Became CEO of Artemis Racing, Challenger of Record for the 34th America's Cup, which is backed by Torbjörn Tornqvist.
  • 2011 Inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in San Diego, CA.[15]
  • In 2017, Cayard won the inaugural Star Vintage Gold Cup sailing with Brian Fatih.[16]
  • 2018 Star World Championship, Bronze
  • Won the Star Vintage Gold Cup in 2018 for the second time.[17]
  • 2019 Inducted into Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
  • Won the Star Vintage Gold Cup in 2021 for the third time.[18]
  • 2022 Star World Championship, Bronze.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Paul Cayard". Olympedia.
  2. 1 2 Swift, E. M. (October 18, 1999). "America's One: The Best Sailor in the U.S., Paul Cayard, May Have Mellowed Some, but He's Applying His Trademark Intensity to Bringing Home the America's Cup". Sports Illustrated.
  3. 1 2 Dufresne, Chris (May 7, 1992). "Going Overboard: Cayard Joins Italians, Tries to Take America's Cup from America". Los Angeles Times.
  4. 1 2 3 "Paul Cayard Profile". Cayard Sailing. Archived from the original on June 1, 2010.
  5. ↑ "History of the America's Cup – The Cup Down Under".
  6. ↑ "americaone.org".
  7. ↑ "Cayard Laments Oracle Move". CNN Inside Sailing. December 11, 2002.
  8. ↑ Roberts, Rich. "Cayard: the AC from the Outside". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Paul Cayard, Class 2020 BASHOF". Sail Sport Talk. August 4, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Star Class Selects Paul Cayard as President". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. October 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ Pline, Lexi (February 25, 2023). "US Sailing Team Announces Operational Restructuring". US Sailing.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Sailing Settles with Paul Cayard, America One". May 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Sailor Biography".
  14. ↑ "1988 Star World Championship – Buenos Aires, Argentina". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Paul Cayard". The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Vintage Gold Cup (Gold Laurel Wreath) – Winners Archive". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Vintage Gold Cup (Gold Laurel Wreath) – Winners Archive". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Vintage Gold Cup (Gold Laurel Wreath) – Winners Archive". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2022 Star World Championship – Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2025 Star World Championship – Split, Croatia". International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. ISCYRA. Retrieved December 16, 2025.