Why is it that this boxy boat, designed more than 100 years ago, has challenged top sailors for over a century, and why does this vintage class seem to be getting more and more attractive with age? One sailor who should know for sure is Paul Cayard. The top international sailing professional keeps coming back to the Star. At 66, he has won his second World Champion title in the Star in September 2025, for the second time after his first title 37 years ago, this time around with top sailor Frithjof Kleen as crew. »Big emotions for sure,« said a visibly moved Paul Cayard at the dock, immediately after the last, incredibly intense race of the series that saw 101 boats on the start line each day. »You know, it’s really hard to believe. We made it very difficult on ourselves, and of course that’s kind of the way I do things. But we stuck together through the tough times. Every team here had to deal with challenges, and we had a few yesterday and today, but we came back because we sailed smart and trusted each other. It’s surreal to win 37 years after my first title. With a long career in sailing, America’s Cups, Round the World races, the Star has always been a constant for me. Winning it again is incredibly special.« Paul began sailing in the Star as far back as 1977, then as crew. »The 1978 Star Worlds were coming to my home club, St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. And so many of us Laser kids got into the Star in anticipation of the Worlds. I was 17 at the time. And then I sailed with Tom Blackaller in the 78 North American Championships and because of that, another guy named Bill Gerard asked me to crew for him in the Worlds and we got fourth, which is amazing. These were my beginnings in the Star Class almost 50 years ago.« Paul’s career in the Star shows just how intensely competitive this class is, with many of the world’s best professional racing and Olympic sailors battling it out on the water. He won his first World title in the class when he was 28 and, as he says, at the top of his game: »I also won the Maxi World Championship the same year and a big match race regatta.« But to win the Star Worlds again, he had to wait another 37 years. »So, yes, I would say this is my biggest success in the Star. And I was fortunate enough to follow it up with a win in the Bacardi Cup, which is a huge event, too. Almost like the World Championship.« The Bacardi Cup, held annually in Miami, is probably the longest running sponsor partnership in sports, not just in yachting – next year will see the 100th event. And it is as high calibre as the Worlds. After 45 years of chasing one of sailing’s most storied trophies, Paul Cayard finally won the Bacardi Cup alongside Frithjof Kleen. A remarkable achievement with a dramatic finish in a duel with legendary five-time Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt from Brazil and his crew, Austin Sperry. The final showdown came in the very last race when it was clear that only one of these two teams could win the series. However, Paul had a three point lead and the advantage: he could sail his throwout race while Robert needed to win that race or finish second. »So when you get a situation like that, you have the opportunity to try to make it not a race,« Cayard explained on the Star Class website. »We got on Robert and just made his life miserable basically.« So already ten minutes before the start, Paul applied match-race tactics and engaged with his opponent in an aggressive pre-start duel. »We both crossed the line way behind the fleet,« Paul said, »and about 90 per cent of my job was done right there!« Looking back to this race, Paul said in Helsinki: »I’m super happy I beat Robert last month because, you know, we’re both getting older, but he’s still 15 years or 20 years younger than me. I’ve been frustrated for so many years. Bacardi’s Eddie Cutillas keeps telling me, ›Next year is gonna be your year.‹ The pressure builds and builds. I’m grateful that we got the job done. A two hundred pound gorilla fell off my back!« 53
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