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Paul Cayard at eight sailing his first El Toro – built by his father. Left: almost 56 years later and racing his Star in Miami during the 2022-23 winter series with crew Frithjof Kleen. The ‘invitation only’ sail number was awarded at last year’s 100th anniversary world championship, representing the year in which Cayard and Steve Erickson won the title in Argentina (with a race to spare). In between times Erickson would be a watch leader on EF Language when, skippered by Cayard, she won the 1997/98 Whitbread Race
best in the world. Maybe our paths will cross again. In other news, I had a mixed bag of Star sailing this winter. In February my crew Frithjof Kleen and I ‘kleened up’ at the 44 boat- Midwinter Championship. Things went our way and we were fast. In early March, one week after the US Sailing saga, it was Bacardi time, one of the greatest one-design regattas on the planet… 96 years of Bacardi Cups! That may be a record for any sporting event with one sponsor?
The great Eddie Cutillas is keeping the Bacardi family spirit and passion front and centre in this classic, which now includes four other one-design classes for the second half of the week. Having never won the Bacardi Cup, I thought this could be our year. Well, my year. Frida has won it twice. But alas the Stars didn’t align… pun intended. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Bruno Prada (BRA) were too good for all of us and won their fourth in a row! A Bacardi Cup record.
The total wins record is shared by Vince Brun and Ding Schoonmaker at seven. I did manage to win the over-60 award. I don’t think of myself as over 60 but my drivers’ licence says I am, so I got the trophy. Maybe I am just saving up to win the 100th Bacardi Cup!
Gonzalo Diaz, aka Old Man, passed away on 3 March. Again, not a tragedy, he was 93 and lived a great life. Old Man was a hero to several generations.
He escaped from communist Cuba in 1964 with his young family. He immigrated to the USA with virtually nothing and started a suc- cessful medical devices business where his children worked along- side him. His love of sailing had him racing Snipes for six decades. He was a fixture at the Don Q, Southern Circuit, the Snipe Nationals, Snipe Worlds, anywhere there were Snipes.
There was no one in the world involved in Snipe Sailing who did not know the name Gonzalo Diaz. He formed community. Sunday night was family night dinner at the Diaz home, Carmen presiding. All sailors were welcome. The Diaz family is truly one of the most welcoming and honourable families I have ever met. And Old Man was the leader of the band. RIP, Gonzalo!
Finally, it is St Patty’s Day as I write this. I think my bucket list St Patty’s Day would be sitting at the bar of the Royal Cork Yacht Club with the O’Leary boys, having just a wee pint or three. You know, it’s all beautiful. The ups and the downs. It is the tapestry of our lives. We each have our own. It is ours to make of it what we wish. Never a dull moment. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
W QUIP E E YO OUR PASSION
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SEAHORSE 37
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