News of Desafio Espanol

Sailing master (his trophy case probably takes up his entire living room) Paul Cayard has moved to Valencia, Spain, as sports Director of Desafio Espanol. From here, he’s pulling together another Cup Challenger. One recalls he’s sailed on a number of previous Challenger boats, including on both American and Italian Challenger teams and, of course, for BMW/Oracle itself at one point. He seems such a jolly fellow—who wouldn’t want to sail with him?

But first, the news: The super-fast guys at Farr Yacht Design have been selected as the main design team for Desafio Espanol. They don’t come up with too many slow boats to China. Just racing juggernaughts (think Farr 40….). Let’s see what they come up with.

They revealed in a Sail-World article that the new class of boat will be both more demanding (understatement) and will require bigger, stronger crews (another understatement). Picture: 12 people grinding most of the time on six pedestals - - eek. Maybe the NFL has a team to spare?

Training will be rigorous, he projects confidently, and has already begun, with both aerobic and strength training (some spinach, too?). They’re using an America’s Cup yacht from the last event and two Swedish Match 40s they recently bought. (One hopes they remember these boats are HALF the size of the new 90-footers to come, if 40 means feet.)

And they’ve already hired about 70 per cent of their crew, but they’re “off” until February; off weight-training, one assumes. Maybe World Wrestling Entertainment has a few muscle-men to spare? Preferably one who wears that preposterous gold belt of the champions.

He neatly summed up the current situation: If the court ruling favors Alinghi, the Challengers have little time to waste. The starting gun has already fired. If it’s BMW/Oracle, then the next battle may be in catamarans somewhere in the Bearing Sea. Cats? That should prove something to see, since these monster cats can travel at 40 knots and pull water-skiers as well! Stay tuned….

Of course, the fact that Mr. Cayard along with BMW/Oracle Russell Coutts have just formed the World Sailing League ($2 million prize), which just happens to be using 70-foot catamarans, is just a COINCIDENCE…not.