A Story… Tom Blackaller, the king of sailing

by Paul Cayard on 19 Feb 2002 ok, since the race has turned into watching grass grow, close grass
growing though, I'll share a story with you.

In 1978 Tom Blackaller, the king of sailing on San Francisco Bay, asked me
to crew for him in his Star. Blackaller was a two-time Star World
Champion with a character and charisma second to none. As keen as you'd
be, being 18 and being asked by the king of sailing, I said, “Absolutely,
positively,” then he told me the what, where, when and how.

The mission I had already signed up to was to drive the boat from San
Francisco to Toronto and back for the Star North American Championship.
Further, I was to get the boat fully prepared and measured. Tom would fly
in the night after the first race, as he was busy 'doing something else.'
Then, after the racing, Tom would fly out; I would pack up the boat and
drive back to San Francisco. It sounded reasonable to me.

Shortly after, I was contacted by Craig Healy, another young San Francisco
sailor like me, who wanted a ride to Kingston for a Laser race. So we
loaded the Laser on the roof of Blackaller's light blue, Chevrolet Malibu
station wagon, a.k.a. the blue pig, and hooked up 'Faster Horses' (6150
for you Star trivia buffs) and headed out.

About 68 hours later, young Healy and even younger Cayard arrived in
Toronto. First mission was to get to the club. It is out on an island.
There are many sub stories that include having 'royal letters' (official
admonishments) being written back to St. Francis Yacht Club for
ungentlemanly behaviour, such as taking your shirt off in 90 degrees heat,
while washing the boat in the boat park, but I wont get into those now.
If you haven't been to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, then ask someone who
has, like our Presidente Paul Henderson {President of ISAF].

So I got the boat washed, and organized, measured every piece of rigging
to make sure all was equal side to side, mast up, just like my written
instructions indicated. Beyond that, I put a big effort into making sure
my area, the jib sheet controls, was well marked and equal side to side.
This was my tryout, the biggest opportunity of my sailing career. I am a
meticulous person by nature and I did not skimp here. I presented the
boat for measurement and went through all the formalities. I even
daringly and without written permission took the boat out for a spin
asking Ding Schoonmaker if he thought it would be ok.

Finally the day of the first race arrived and I was sad to see everyone
leave the dock and our boat just sitting there. Dennis Conner and my
friend Ron Anderson (2 x four gold bars.. that means two time World
Championship winning crew) won the race. Sure enough, Tom showed up that
night, with a girlfriend and all three of us piled into one hotel room.
He hadn't seen the girlfriend in a while, I think more to the point, she
hadn't seen anyone in a while. So no one slept very well. Another part
of the educational process for young Cayard getting older and wiser by the
minute.

Next day...to say that I was keen was an understatement. I was keen. I
fully expected that Tom and I would win this regatta. My mother used to
get mad at the people I crewed for if we did not win. We had a bit of a
delay at the ferry from downtown to the island where the club is, because
Tom said some unkind things to the ferryboat captain who tried to enforce
the blazer requirement on Tom. You can imagine how that discussion went,
between the king and this poor 'bus driver'. Anyway we made our way to
the island and launched a glistening 6150.

Out on the course 45 minutes early, we checked the line thoroughly and had
a good start in about 12 knots of wind. Tom was a bit tired and jet lagged
as he had had a hard 24 hours so I was just happy that we were up in the
noise. We rounded the first leeward mark about fourth in a bunch with DC,
Buchan, Melges, Schoonmaker and Knowles. I pulled the jib in and hiked my
measly 210 lbs over the side and waited about 30 seconds to let things
settle in. Then I popped the question that led to a career marking
statement from my mentor...

pc: 'How's the jib?'
tdb: high pitched voice, 'What?'
pc: 'How is the jib trim?'
tdb: higher pitched voice, 'What?'
pc: 'How is the jib? I mean, is it on the marks? Are you happy with the
jib?'
tdb: 'Oh, anywhere in there is fine. If that was important I'd be doing
it.'

Whoa. I felt about that big. I just curled up in a ball on the side of
the boat and did not say another word for the rest of the beat.

I felt about that big just then but I am not easily deterred. I went on
to sail many a regatta with Tom including two America's Cups. I miss him
and wish he could see how much good he did for me.

I'll have a beer for you Tom in Rio.