PAUL CAYARD MEETS THE PRESS

Less than a week after joining Desafío Español as its new Sports Director, Paul Cyarad talked to the Spanish media, together with the team’s general manager, Agustín Zulueta. The American legendary sailor talked about most aspects of his team but the most controversial ones (validity of the Challenger of Record, current litigation in New York, possible postponement of the America’s Cup) were developed to a much lesser extent.

Being a conference for the Spanish media, the interest was mainly focused on what Cayard could bring to the team, his goals and the level of Spanish participation in the sailing crew. In our opinion, there are three or four main points from the conference. First, Cayard will helm the new boat during the development phase but not necessarily during actual racing. Second, both

him and Desafío Español don’t want to have the event postponed till 2010 and hope a solution to the litigation can be found before Monday. Third, Cayard thinks Alinghi doesn’t have the 33rd America’s Cup in the pocket and BMW Oracle will be very difficult to beat, given their enormous financial, technical and human resources.

— Valencia Sailing, full report: http://tinyurl.com/yrpyp2

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Cayard: “Desafío Español will fight for the Cup”

Valencia,

This morning in Valencia Agustin Zulueta, General Director of Desafío Español, presented Paul Cayard as the team’s Sports Director.

In the last edition of the America’s Cup, Cayard worked with the team as Technical & Sports Advisor, overseeing the preparation and set up of ESP 97 during the weeks leading up the Louis Vuitton Cup in April 2007.

“In February and March, I experienced what it was like to work with Desafío Español. That experience made today’s agreement possible,” stated Cayard. He added; “The 33rd America’s Cup will be very different from the previous Cup. It will be more like the Cup in 1992 when we started to first use the America’s Cup Class boats.”

As Sports Director of Desafío Español, Paul Cayard indicated that he is aware of the “short time remaining until the start in 2009.” “You need money and resources to succeed. Fortunately, Desafío Español benefits from both. The team will fight for the Cup,” stated Cayard.

Cayard has led many campaigns, so his experience will be a fundamental asset to the Spanish syndicate. “I am well aware that this is a Spanish team. I will endeavour to learn Spanish and more about the Spanish culture. I did this with the Italian syndicate Il Moro di Venezia. I realize that it is key to create unity in the team, which is fundamental to win.”

Agustín Zulueta, General Director of Desafío Español, said that he had thought to introduce the entire crew at the beginning of October, but that he didn’t wanted to do so without introducing their leader first. “In the last edition, the Spanish team started a relationship with Paul Cayard with the idea of continuity. We want to create a team with an identity, the best Spanish team,” said Zulueta.

“We now have a motivated team, a crew which is excited to have a great leader such as Paul. He is one of the few people with in-depth experience in this game. Paul also knows what it is to live in Spain, having lived in Palma in 1990 to prepare the campaign of Il Moro di Venezia for the 1992 America’s Cup,” Zulueta added.

When asked about who will be at the helm of the Spanish boat, Zulueta said that it is very possible that Cayard will be, but another possibility is Laureano Wizner. “We won’t discard the possibility of signing another helmsman with a match racing background, one who could contribute his experience to the team,” said Zulueta.

Cayard added that it is important to have a helmsman able to feel the boat and understand the technical side of things. “It is important to have a helmsman who can convey their sensations to the technical team, in order to develop the best possible boat. To be at the helm is the best way to feel the speed and acceleration, and this information is critical,” stated Cayard.

“This America’s Cup will not be a classic match race, and the talent you need to develop a boat does not have to be the same as the one you need for pure match racing,” Cayard concluded.

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US Olympic Trials – San Diego

Obviously, a great deal has been written about the battles at the top of each class during the US Olympic Trials last week.

I had the pleasure of driving the coach boat for my son Danny and his crew Pike Harris at the 49er trials one day last week. The boys are 18 and 17 years old and were not in the running for the slot to China. But they achieved success by exposing themselves to the best, learning a lot and enjoying sailing such an exhilarating boat for ten days.

Theirs was the four hour Olympic program, not four years! Danny’s regular crew could not make the trials for school reasons. So I thought that was the end of it. No. Danny was determined to race and he called Pike Harris. Pike is a senior in High School in San Diego and was keen. The boys know each other from sailing 29ers against each other over the past couple of years.

So Danny and Pike set out on a learning experience; a “quick start” to launch their future participation in the class, but with expectations well in check. Through the week they learned heaps from friends like Morgan Larson and Pete Spaulding, and Zach Maxam, all of whom have coached Danny over the years at various clinics like CISA. The US 49er Olympic Team coach, Luther Carpenter, was also very generous to give Danny and Pike some pointers throughout the week.

After measuring in on Thursday, the boys headed out for their first sail together on Friday. Saturday, October 6th was the first race of the Olympic trials, it was also Danny’s first race in a 49er. I would say that he has sailed a 49er less than ten times before and I believe Pike never had!

On that first Saturday, with the wind peaking at 20 knots (a hurricane for San Diego) they finished 9th in all three races, out of 13 competitors. Not bad for the first day! The top three teams are world class; Tim Wadlow/Chris Rast; Dalton Bergan/Zach Maxam and Morgan Larson/Pete Spaulding. John Heineken (20 years old) and his crew Matt Noble are nipping at the heels of the big boys and have been in the class for about a year, including the Worlds in Cascais last summer. Johnny and Matt also graduated from the 29er class.

Through the week they went through all the frustrations and exhilarations one experiences while learning. They pouched some starts. They didn’t shift gears when the wind dropped at the end of the day. They tried different rig settings, starting techniques, vang tensions…always watching the top teams and learning. There were ups and downs, but the boys finished the 24 race series with a 2,5,4, finishing 9th overall. In the race in which they finished second, they rounded the last windward mark first! What a thrill that must have been!

The amount they absorbed from this 24 race “clinic” was easy to see in their performance.

I spoke to Danny last night, as he was driving back to Cal Poly San Luis and I was boarding a flight to Valencia. He is a very understated guy (unlike his father), but it was clear to me that those ten days in San Diego did more for his self confidence, self esteem and general enthusiasm and passion for life, than any ten days in his life so far.

What is great about Danny is that he truly loves sailing. For sure he is competitive and wants to win, and someday he will, but he is enjoying the ride in getting there. To say that I am a proud father is an understatement.

I also want to congratulate all the trials winners, but especially John Dane and Austin Sperry who won the thriller Star series in Marina Del Rey.

All the best to Team USA in China!

Paul Cayard

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Paul Cayard Joins Desafio Espanol

PRESS RELEASE

Paul Cayard has joined Desafío Español as Sports Director for the 33rd America’s Cup. During the last edition of the Cup, Cayard was the team’s Technical & Sports Advisor overseeing the preparation and set up of ESP97 during the weeks leading up the Louis Vuitton Cup in April 2007.

Cayard (San Francisco, USA 1959) has 24 years of experience in the America’s Cup and will contribute his expertise to the team, in his new position as Sports Director.

Cayard will start to work with the team in the middle of October. This is the seventh time Cayard will be involved in sailing’s premier event since his debut as a sail trimmer on board US-33 in 1983.

In 1992, Cayard won the Louis Vuitton Cup skippering “Il Moro di Venezia” and in 2000 advanced to the finals of the Challenger Selection Series as Skipper of “AmericaOne”. He also finished the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race in the runner up position skippering the “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

Paul Cayard holds seven World Championship titles in different classes, has participated in two Olympic Games and, in 1998, was the first American to win the Whitbread Round the World Race skippering Ef Language.

“This is an opportunity to put my experience to work”, he says. “It is also a chance for me to get back into the Cup game after missing the competition in 2003 and 2007. It will be enjoyable to race for the home team and to try to improve on the fantastic result of 2007”, he adds.

The American sailor starts his relationship with the team at an early stage of the campaign. “I believe that my experience will help in the overall strategy for the team as well as decision making on an operational level. Also, this Cup will have a new design rule so the experience in getting a new class of boat to its maximum potential will be valuable. Further it will be imperative that the sailing team and the technical team have good communication and a good working relationship. I think I can help that process. The Spanish team is a good team that aspires to be great”, remarked Cayard.

Note to the editor: A press conference will be arranged in mid October upon Cayard’s arrival in Valencia. Opportunities for interviews will follow.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

World Championship Titles

2002 IMS, Capri, Brava Q 8

1996 ILC 40, Athens, Brava Q8

1991 50′ Class Japan Abracadabra

1991 America’s Cup, San Diego, Il Moro di Venezia

1989 One Ton, Napoli, Brava

1988 Star, Buenos Aires, Argentina

1988 Maxi, San Francisco, Il Moro di Venezia III

Round the World Sailing

2006 Volvo Ocean Race 2nd Pirates of the Caribbean

1998 Whitbread Round the World Race 1st EF Language

America’s Cup

2007 Desafio Espanol, Technical Advisor, Valencia

2000 AmericaOne Skipper, Auckland

1995 Stars and Stripes Helmsman San Diego

1992 Il Moro di Venezia Skipper/Manager San Diego

1987 USA Tactician Perth, Australia

1983 Defender – Sail trimmer Newport, RI

Won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992 and Citizen Cup in 1995, hence sailed as helmsman in two consecutive America’s Cup finals.

Olympic Games

2004 Star, Athens – 5th

1984 Star (Alternate), Los Angeles

Match Racing Results

2001 Bermuda Gold Cup, 1st

2001 Nations Cup, 1st

1999 Steinkager/Line 7, Auckland 1st

1998 Yachting Match Race Virgin, Gorda 1st

1997 Golden Gate Invitational, San Francisco 1st

1996 Steinlager/Line 7, Auckland 1st

1994 St. Francis Match Race, San Francisco 1st

1994 French International Sete, France 1st

1994 World Championship La Rochele, France 2nd

1992 Louis Vuitton Cup, San Diego 1st

Racing/Cruising Helmsman Awards

2006 St Francis Yacht Club Yachtsman of the Year

2002 Sailing World Hall of Fame

1998 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year

1997 St. Francis Yacht Club Yachtsman of the Year

1992 Rothmans Yachtsman of the Year

1991 Yachting Magazine Yachtsman of the Year

For more information or high resolution photos please contact:

Pablo Ruiz-Jiménez – Press Officer – Desafio Espanol

E pruiz@espacc.com M +34 628 31 31 67

W http://www.desafioespanol2007.com

Jennifer Hall – Marketing & PR Manager – Cayard Sailing

E Jennifer@cayardsailing.com M +39 392 976 8107

W http://www.cayardsailing.com

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