St. Barths Bucket

St. Barths

Perseus 3 is the winner in the Grande Dames class of the 2026 St. Barths Bucket. The 60 meter Perini won 0n a tie breaker over Rosehearty, the winningest Perini of all time. In a wind shortened regatta, the two SuperYachts tied with a 1st and 2nd each but due to Perseus wining the last race, the tie was broken in our favor. Nin O’Leary, cool under pressure on the helm, was a main weapon. That said we did have an all star crew of 40 getting the massive 1/2 acre spinnaker up and down flawlessly.

32 yachts competed in 5 classes and the overall winner this year was Hetairos. Its aways fun to race in St. Barths and we are very lucky to do so!

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Bacardi Cup 2026

Coconut Grove
The best things in life are worth waiting for!
My teammate Frida and I just won the Bacardi Cup! — the most important Star Class regatta outside of the World Championship. I have been chasing that traditional sip of Bacardi rum for 46 years, ever since I first raced in the Bacardi Cup as crew for the late, great Tom Blackaller in 1980.
Over the years I’ve battled legends of the Star Class: Schoonmaker, Buchan, Wright, Brun, Reynolds, Dane, Diaz, Szabo, Bromby, Adams, Melleby, Domínguez, Doyle, Negri — and most recently Mateusz Kusznierewicz and their many great crews.
This year the fleet gained another formidable team. 3-time Star World Champion, Robert Scheidt returned to the Star sailing with Olympian, and 2024 Star World Champion, Austin Sperry. Between our two teams we won the first five races, setting up what I dare say was a final-race showdown for the ages.
Going into the last race with a three-point cushion, Frida and I decided to try to end the regatta before the start. With about five and a half minutes to go, we engaged Robert and Austin, and a fast and furious sequence of match-racing maneuvers followed for nearly five minutes.
By the start we had achieved 90% of our goal. Both boats were about 30 seconds late and buried in traffic. From there we tacked relentlessly on the five-time Olympic medalist, pushing both teams farther back into the fleet.
At the first mark we were an unusual sight — 26th and 30th.
For Robert to win the Cup from there would require an extraordinary comeback. And he almost pulled it off! After getting around us on the first run of the 10.6-mile race, Robert and Austin lit the afterburners and charged through the fleet to finish 10th. Robert Scheidt is unquestionably one of the greatest sailors of all time. And at 52, he still has plenty of runway ahead of him — I can attest to that.

2026 Bacardi Invitational Regatta © Anna Suslova Media

At the first mark we were an unusual sight — 26th and 30th.
For Robert to win the Cup from there would require an extraordinary comeback. And he almost pulled it off! After getting around us on the first run of the 10.6-mile race, Robert and Austin lit the afterburners and charged through the fleet to finish 10th. Robert Scheidt is unquestionably one of the greatest sailors of all time. And at 52, he still has plenty of runway ahead of him — I can attest to that.
Winning the Bacardi Cup makes my Star career complete. Not that I won’t try to win the 100th — but this was the one missing piece. The 200-pound monkey is finally off my back, and it feels great!!
I want to thank Bacardi for energizing the longest partnership in Sport. I want to thank Frida for being a fantastic crew — but even more importantly, a great teammate and coach. I love seeing my son Danny in the boat park every morning and competing well on the water. I am incredibly proud watching him grow as a Star sailor and as a man.
I am also proud of today’s Star Class for continuing to add to the prestige and standard of excellence built over 115 years. Our Under-30 sailors are our future and we are nurturing them. Our Over-80 sailors have our deepest respect. And everyone in between is what makes the class so special — both on the water and, just as importantly, ashore. We are family!
It is my honor and privilege to serve as President of the International Star Class.

Screenshot

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Rolex Yachtsman of the Year

 
Being voted Rolex Yachtsman of the Year is an honor of the highest order! I am flattered and humbled to be included amongst the great American sailors who grace this award.
2025 has been a year of success and recognition for me. Winning the Star World Championship put a spot light on a lifetime of work, dedication, discipline, and passion. My dreams came true!
I am grateful for the honors that have come my way. I am rich with memories, emotions, and the amazing experiences that make up my journey in our beautiful sport.
I am especially grateful for my health, my fitness, and my family and my friends.
I have been blessed to have passion in my life. I have always had goals. When I wake up in the morning, I know what I am going to do and can’t wait to get going. I think of life like an hourglass; while a lot of sand has fallen for some of us, the sand that hasn’t fallen is precious opportunity.
Age is a number, not a limit.
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America’s Cup Hall of Fame

October 16, 2025
Being inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame — alongside legends Jimmy Spithill and Susan Henn — in the iconic Model Room of the New York Yacht Club, and in front of an all-star audience of family, friends, and peers, was one of the great highlights of my life.
The honor gave me a moment to pause and reflect on this incredible journey: From the America’s Cup to the Olympics, around-the-world racing, regattas big and small, sailing with my kids — and now, at 66, winning another Star World Championship — sailing has enriched my life in ways words can hardly capture. I’m filled with emotion and deep gratitude.
Life is like an hourglass — and last night, we celebrated the sand that’s already fallen. While I’m honored by the recognition, my focus remains on what’s still ahead.
Through America One Foundation, and with our amazing partners; the Sailing Foundation of New York, the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, the Schoonmaker Foundation, and so many passionate individuals — some of whom were in the room last night — we’re helping the youth of America chase their dreams. That’s even more fulfilling than winning my own races. Because paying it forward, is our greatest purpose.
Photo credit Hechler Photographers
ACHOF Chairman Steven Tsuchiya performing the induction
Henn (Great grandson), Spithill, Cayard
AC 1987 crew: Silvestri, Keefe, Stuart, Cayard
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Star World Championship-2025

September 13, 2025
37 years later- back on top of the World! 🏆⭐
I won my first Star World Championship in 1988 at age 28. That victory launched my professional sailing career. I kept coming back to the Star while racing in the America’s Cup and Whitbread because it grounded me in the skills that are core to my craft.
Since stepping away from the “big time” a decade ago, I’ve been chasing this title again — finishing 3rd in 2018 and 2022 and narrowly missing in 2024. That sting of that loss stuck with me.
This year, in Split, Croatia, against 101 of the world’s best teams, I finally did it. To be back on top of what I consider the best One-Design in Sailing, after 37 years — and become the oldest Star World Champion at 66, is gratifying beyond words. I couldn’t have won without great teammates, Steve Erickson ’88 and Frithjof Kleen ’25.
I am now qualified to say: “Age is just a number!”
The Star Class has always been my foundation in sailing. Its legends inspired me as a kid, and winning my first Worlds in ’88 made me feel part of that history. Now, as a two-time Gold Star winner and International Star Class President, I’m committed to giving the next generation the same opportunities this sport has given me.
I’m blessed to be a Star sailor for life!
Paul Cayard
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Time to Tack

It has always been my honor to give back to the sport that has given me so much. My purpose is to support the athletes of today and the next generations. In March of 2021, I accepted the position as head of the US Olympic Sailing Team, with the goal of getting Team USA back on the podium.  While this was my greatest challenge, I am very proud of my Team and what we achieved to date.

Unfortunately, the current Board of US Sailing recently restructured the Olympic Department, including my role as Executive Director. The new structure is not what I signed up for, nor something I am willing to be part of, therefore I resigned February 24th.  I am not a quitter, but I do know when it is time to go.

To those who supported this mission with me, I am forever grateful for your trust and confidence. To our USA athletes, I wish you great success, and know I will always be there for you.

Go USA!

Paul Cayard

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Bacardi Cup

Coconut Grove

The 93rd Bacardi Cup got underway today with 65 Stars, from 15 countries, racing under classic Biscayne Bay conditions of 12-15 knots from the Southeast. The wind was very steady with only small oscillations.

I am sailing with Pedro Trouche, a very good young Brazilian sailor. Pedro and I got off to a very good start at the left end of the line and after 5 minutes were able to tack and cross the fleet. Our goal for Day 1 was to have a good race without taking big risks. Thus crossing when we could and getting in the middle of the race course. We lost a couple of boats on both edges and rounded the first mark 6th. We fought with Negri/Kleene(ITA/GER), Peter and Robert O’Leary (IRL) , Kusznierewicz/Prada(POL/BRA) and Schönherr/Koy (DEN/GER) most of the day. In the end, we finished a strong third with O”Leary brothers winning over Kusznierewicz/Prada in second.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for more of the same, maybe a touch less wind.

For complete results go to:

https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm…

Paul

 

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SSL Finals

Nassau

Very light winds made for a tough day. We didn’t get much right and ended up dropping from 5th to 9th in the quarter finals. In the final race, Percy/Ekstrom won by an inch in over Rohart/Ponsot. Melleby/Revkin 3rd and the qualification leaders, Mateusz/Bruno, who were seeded straight to the finals, finished 4th.  While light winds prevailed all day, the final could not have been more exciting.

Beautiful week-tough day.

Star Sailors League

St. Francis Yacht Club – Racing

Drawing its inspiration from tennis and its annual Masters, the SSL Board has launched in 2013 the SSL Finals which will be organised at the end of every year. This regatta has exceptional media coverage and brings together the 10 best sailors of the Ranking and about 15 VIP guest sailors.

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SSL Finals-Day 4

Nassau

Day 4 of the 2019 SSL Finals saw the qualifying series come to a close. Due to light winds, 2 races were run today making it a 10 race qualifying series.

Phil and I ran the gauntlet and made it! There was nothing easy about it. Today saw very light and still shifty winds. Phil and I retuned our mast last night and felt very fast today.

Drawing its inspiration from tennis and its annual Masters, the SSL Board has launched in 2013 the SSL Finals which will be organised at the end of every year. This regatta has exceptional media coverage and brings together the 10 best sailors of the Ranking and about 15 VIP guest sailors.

 

Two young teams did well today, Lorenzo Chiavarini(GBR)/Kilian Kilian Weise(GER) and Jimeen Ha(KOR)/Mark Strube. It’s great to see these two young Laser sailors mixing it up with seasoned keel boat sailors and doing well!

The forecast for tomorrow is more of the same light winds. The quarter final starts at 11:00 EST with 8 teams, qualifiers 3-10, racing. The top 5 from the quarter final move on to the semi final along with the #2 from the qualification series. The top 3 will move onto the Final along with the number #1 qualifier. The winner of the Final is the SSL Finals winner and takes a Gold Medal and a $40,000 prize. There is $200,000 total prize money on the line at this event.

Watch the live broadcast of the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and Finals tomorrow on StarSailors.com
You can also watch it on my FB site.
@starsailorsleague St. Francis Yacht Club – Racing #SSLFinals #SSLFinals2019 #StarSailorsLeague #watchthefinals #watchthelive #Bow01 #USA
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Photos by Star Sailors League / Gilles Morelle @gilles.morelle.photography and Marc Rouiller @lightstormphotographieay 4 brought to a close the qualifying round of the 2019 SSL Finals. The leaderboard photo has all the results.

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