Yachting: Helmsman sets cracking pace

American Ed Baird has 'sunk' low in the sport but now he is one of three top helmsmen helping Alinghi to defend the America's Cup in 2007. Picture / Reuters

Ed Baird doesn't drink coffee.

It is not that the Alinghi helmsman doesn't like it, he just thinks he's hyped up enough already.

The American, who sailed with Team New Zealand in 1995, will be at the helm for the Swiss syndicate during the year's final two America's Cup pre-regattas in Trapani, Sicily.

Sitting in Alinghi's makeshift base, the 47-year-old could understandably be forgiven for being a little edgy.

As one of the syndicate's three main helmsmen, Baird takes over from Jochen Schuemann who steered the syndicate to victory in the last two regattas in Malmo and Peter Holmberg who guided them to success in the match-racing regatta in Valencia in June.

On top of that there is Baird's last campaign with Young America. The one where the boat snapped in half during the 2000 challenger series with Baird at the helm.

"That probably has a lot to do with why I am sailing in the last act [regatta] rather than the first one because they wanted to make sure the boat lasted through the year," he laughs.

Baird's involvement with Alinghi came after the dismissal of Russell Coutts last year.

A quick flick through his CV indicates why he got the job. He is the world's No 1-ranked match-racer and has several world titles to his name.

But unlike some sailors who are happy to take jobs anywhere, Baird was a little more specific about what he was after.

"I wanted to be on a strong team. I didn't want to be at the event just to be there.

"In 2003 that attitude led me eventually not to sail and to be on television [for TVNZ]. This time I was looking round talking to the stronger teams and I am very thrilled to have this be where I ended up."

While strong is a word that can be used to describe the whole Alinghi outfit, it is one that particularly applies to their lineup of helmsman.

To have Schuemann, Holmberg and Baird in one syndicate has got to make for some interesting in-house racing and benefit the team in the long run.

Who will be at the helm when Alinghi line up to defend the cup in 18 months time has yet to be decided. A lot will depend who works best with instrumental tactician and three time cup winner Brad Butterworth.

"We have not really discussed how that is going to work," Baird says.

"I think inside each of us we probably believe that it will become clear what the right solution is.

"But we are all at interesting places in our lives where each of us in different ways has been successful in the sport.

"I think that when we come to work each day we look at each other and say, 'How can we help each other?' Which is a really different place than we would have been if we were in our 20s or early 30s and trying to push ourselves forward. This is more about succeeding as a group."

Sitting out the last cup, Baird said his job as a commentator gave him a new perspective on the game in that it allowed him to analyse from afar.

Back in the thick of it Baird has been impressed with the level of competition.

"If you compare where the challengers are now compared to where the challengers have been 18 months before the last two cups there is an immense difference. This time the challengers are so much stronger, it is incredible."

ED BAIRD

Nationality: American.
Date of birth: May 17, 1958.
Career highlights:

America's Cup

2003: Stars & Stripes, sparring helmsman during round-robin breaks.
2000: Louis Vuitton Cup, Young America, skipper.
1995: Winner, Team New Zealand, sparring helmsman.

Match-racing

2004-05: 1st, ISAF World Ranking.
1995-96: 1st, ISAF World Ranking.
1995, 2003, 2004: Winner, world championship.