Paul Cayard, skipper of the Oracle-BMW team and sidelined by boss Larry Ellison, is rumoured to be back among the challengers for the America's Cup in 2007.
Neither he nor any of his friends (such as Bob Billingham, Kimo Worthington) were present at the presentation of the new America's Cup venue Valencia. And just as the industry had already spread rumours about Russell Coutts leaving the Alinghi team (total nonsense), there were also rumours about the Whitbread winner and star world champion Cayard in Valencia.
Allegedly, Paul Cayard is to receive 85 million (!) dollars from an Arab mega yacht owner to take part in the America's Cup 2007 or the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 for the Yacht Club de Monaco. A huge sum.
This does not seem impossible at all. Especially not when it was recently announced that British sailor Tracy Edwards has received 55 million euros from the state of Qatar to organise a round-the-world race. This much is certain: Paul Cayard, who has already taken part in the Cup four times for the USA and once with an Italian team (Il Moro di Venezia), would definitely be an asset to the event.
