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Desafio Espanyol appoint Paul Cayard
October 12, 2007
Desafio Espanyol have appointed Paul Cayard as the team's sports director for the 33rd America's Cup in 2009.
American yachtsman Paul Cayard will be involved in his seventh America's Cup in 2009. The 48-year-old American, one of the world's leading yachtsmen, was an advisor for the Spanish outfit at this year's event in Valencia. "This is an opportunity to put my experience to work," said Cayard, who takes over from Luis Doreste. "It is also a chance for me to get back into the Cup, having missed 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. I believe that my experience will help in the overall strategy for the team, as well as in decision making on an operational level. "Also, this Cup will have a new design rule so the experience in bringing a new class of boat to its maximum potential will be valuable. Furthermore, it will be imperative that the sailing team and the technical team communicate well and have a good working relationship. "I think I can help that process. The Spanish team is a good team, one which aspires to be great."
Desafio reached the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series in April, which was won by Team New Zealand. Desafio are one of five officially registered challengers who hope to take on Swiss defending champion Alinghi in Valencia in 2009. However, U.S. syndicate Oracle has launched legal action which argues that new rules are unfairly weighed in the defenders' favor. Unless the two sides settle out of court, the case will be heard in New York on October 22. Cayard will begin his work with Desafio in mid-October as he will be involved in sailing's premier event for the seventh time, having made 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 holds seven world titles in different classes, has participated in two Olympic Games and was the first American to win the Whitbread Round the World Race, skippering EF Language in 1998. Cayard was also runner-up in the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race skippering Pirates of the Caribbean. |
