AmericaOne Skipper Cayard Earns Yachtsman of the Year Award
By Sharael Feist
Feb., 1998
Paul Cayard, winner of 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race and veteran America’s Cup competitor, was presented with the prestigious Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award on February 8 at the newly refurbished City Hall in San Francisco.
Mayor Willie Brown presented Cayard with a proclamation honoring his 1998 outstanding on-the-water achievements. Doug Meine, Vice President and National Sales Manager for Rolex, awarded Cayard with the Yachtsman of the Year trophy and a Rolex watch.
Cayard was chosen, in part, due to his achievements in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Having never previously competed in the race, Cayard and his crew took first place in the 31,600-mile, 117-day competition.
“The Whitbread Round the World is the most difficult and most challenging of all sailing races,” said Mayor Brown. “Millions of viewers monitored the progress of the race as first timers [Cayard and his crew] won.”
Mayor Brown compared the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award to winning an Oscar or Academy award. “I couldn’t have achieved [winning the Whitbread] without the II other crew members,” Cayard said. “You really depend on each other. You really’hold the life of the other crew members in your hands.’ You build a friendship and bond, that is unbelievable. Memories I have of that experience will never leave me.”
Cayard was awarded Yachtsman of the Year by St. Francis Yacht Club in 1997, by Rothmans in 1997, and by Yachting Magazine in 1991. He said he was proud to win this award because it is the “Who’s Who” of sailing.
Cayard’s next goal is to win the America’s Cup 2000. He is currently the skipper of AmericaOne, which is sponsored by the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. Cayard will be returning to New Zealand to continue training with his crew. Cayard named Mayor Brown honorary crew member of AmericaOne and presented him with a hat that had the AmericaOne logo on it.