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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SSL Finals

Nassau, Bahamas’s

The 7th edition of Star Sailors League (SSL) started here in Nassau on Tuesday.  Here are my posts from my Facebook site, cayardsailing, for the first three days of racing.

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For day 1 of the SSL finals, the fleet ran in two races in a shifty Northwest breeze. Phil and I did fine, not great. We are tied for 5th on 14 points with Hamish Pepper/Pedro Trouche and Iain Percy/Anders Ekström. Melleby (6points) followed by Negri (7) at the top. The points are all pretty tight as you would imagine with a fleet like this.

Four races are on the schedule for tomorrow in 16-18knots. We will be tired tomorrow night!

Big breeze here in Nassau today yielded good results for Phil and I. Our 4, 14, 1 moved us up to 3rd place at the half way point of the qualifying series. Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen(GER)are really sailing consistently well and have a strong lead with just 8 points. Mateusz Kusznierewicz(POL) and Bruno Prada(BRA), 2019 World Champions, have 17, two points ahead of us.

Day 3 of the SSL finals was rough for Phil and I. We really never seemed to get on the correct side of the shifts. There were plenty and they were big.

Yesterday’s leader Diego Negri also had a tough day and slipped to third. Some of you younger sailors enjoyed the lighter winds and did well today.

This all means things are tightened up for Phil and I tomorrow. We are 4 points out of 5th and 8 points ahead of the critical 10th spot.

The forecast for tomorrow is more light wind.

The photo of us with our heads in the boat and behind several of our competitors is a good reflection of our day.

Watch the live broadcast tomorrow – Saturday on StarSailors.com
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@starsailorsleague #SSLFinals #SSLFinals2019 #StarSailorsLeague #watchthefinals #watchthelive #Bow01 #USA
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Photos by Star Sailors League / Gilles Morelle @gilles.morelle.photography and Marc Rouiller @lightstormphotographie

Here is a link to the results: http://bit.ly/2019SSLFinalsResults

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Schoonmaker Cup

Coconut Grove

Three races were held today, in a 15 knot northeaster for the Star fleet on Biscayne Bay. 

16 teams were happy to get out for the Winter Series opener after racing was cancelled yesterday with gusts up to 40 knots.

In race one, the windiest of the day, Augie Diaz and Bruno Prada took the win. Phil and I passed Eric Doyle right before the finish to take second. 

In race two, Doyle was on fire and led wire to wire with Augie and Bruno in second and Phil and I third. There were some good sized shifts coming off Key Biacayne and I did not get us in phase.

It was pretty much a who beats who in the final race. Doyle was over early and had to restart and Phil and I had a nice clean start and led wire to wire to take the Schoonmaker Cup.  We were both fast and in phase finally.

This was the last opportunity to train before the SSL Finals which start in about three weeks in Nassau.

Phil and I had decent speed but need a bit more time in the boat together to smooth out the corners.

Back to SFO tonight.

For complete results go to www.yachtscoring.com

Paul

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Vintage Gold Cup 2019

The third annual 2019 Vintage Gold Cup is complete and we have a new winner; Eivind Melleby from Norway with Josh Revkin (USA) crewing.  Melleby won the “who-beats-who” final 8th race to take the win over Lars Grael of Brazil with Arnie Baltins crewing.

26 teams from 7 nations established a new record For competitors in this event for 50+ year old wooden Stars. Interest in the Vintage Gold Cup continues to grow and may only be limited by the logistics of the venue some day. The craftsmen who restore and maintain these boats are as much a part of this event as the beautiful boats they put at the hands of the competitors.

Danny and I finished 5th which is certainly respectable but I did not sail as well as I had in last years.  We were racing a beautiful 1953 Etchells built Star named Scimitar. Our GEM which is getting a new cedar deck put on her. She will be back in action next year!

A cold morning on Gull Lake

A big thanks to Don Parfet and Jon VanderMolen for their vision and all their hard work to make the Vintage Gold Cup such a fun event.  26 wooden Stars, all restored to an amazing beauty, is a sight to behold. Their were even 4 that were completely original with bronze hardware and wooden spars.

Complete scores at www.vintagegoldcup.com

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