It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Paul Cayard.

10:32 PM Tue 17 Nov 2009 GMT

'Nice, France, November 12th 2009. Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice (7-22 November 2009)' Sander Van der Borch &copy

If Paul Cayard didn't have a sterling CV that spans decades and has transcended the sport of sailing, you'd think he was an eager young sailor trying to earn his way onto a team. At 50, he'll do whatever it takes to build a team, have fun, stay fit and lead by example.

Paul Cayard, Louis Vuitton Trophy Series, Sunday 15 November 2009 - Christophe Favreau &copy

Mature Mr. Cayard is a member of the management team of Artemis Racing. Youthful Paul is willing to pitch in anywhere he is needed on his team's ACC boat at the Louis Vuitton Trophy. He's the strategist, which means on days when there is wind, he's part of the afterguard working with helmsman, Terry Hutchinson and Morgan Larson, the team's tactician. The young Paul just can't stay put.

If a grinder's pedestal is free, he's on it. He'll help with the mid-bow. He pulls the jib down when the boat bears off onto a run. His arms flail as fast as his teammates' during the spinnaker takedowns. So far, he has stayed off of the bow during the regatta. Given his performance out on the wire with Howie Hamlin this summer during the SAP 505 World Championship, don't put it past young Paul to volunteer to substitute for Artemis bowman Andy Fethers should he fall ill or become injured.

As strategist for Artemis Racing, mature Paul could remain in the shade of the mainsail on days when the wind is less than 10 knots, but the fit 50-year old dons a harness and effectively leaps a building in a single bound. In his words, 'My job is to look at the race course and help Morgan figure out which side we like. The practical side of this is that if the wind is under 10 knots, I do this job from 100 feet up in the air. I have a headset so I can communicate with Morgan and tell him what I see. The view up there is amazing. I don't get seasick, so no issues there either.' While he is atop the mast as a strategist, Superman also launches himself away from the mast and swings like a pendulum toward the backside of the mainsail to pop the compression loaded battens into the right position following a jibe.

Young Paul has been up the mast a few times during the Louis Vuitton Cup and each time he tries to improve his technique of holding on so that the top of the mast doesn't flick him off and send him flying. Inexperienced batten popper Paul went flying like an actor during a dress rehearsal for Peter Pan a few days ago and bruised his forearm. Of course, youthful Paul heeled quickly.

Cayard was on a wire earlier this year putting fit sailors less than half his age to shame at the SAP 505 World Championship on a very windy San Francisco Bay. Past 505 World Champion, Howie Hamlin, asked his contemporary to be his bowman during a regatta in which multiple masts were bent like pretzels each and every day of the weeklong series, yet Hamlin and Cayard finished seventh in the regatta that took its toll on equipment and psyche.

Paul Cayard (far left) Terry Hutchinson on the helm all check to see where Artemis is against their opponent - Louis Vuitton Trophy - Bob Greiser-Outside Images

Said the man who has shed several kilos since his 2004 Olympic Star campaign of the 505 experience, 'It was a way of physically checking myself to see if I can still do the things that I could do 30 years ago.'

Cayard has sailed distance races such as the Transpac, Pac Cup and Coastal Cup with his daughter and son over the past two years. When asked if he is in better shape than his offspring, he said, 'Yeah. My kids would have a hard time blowing me out.' He also took the opportunity to say that his son hasn't passed him on the mountain bike yet. (Don't worry Danny, how many of us could pass him?)

While he may be as physically fit as a 20-year old, Paul Cayard has three decades more experience and wisdom. He, Torbjorn Tornqvist, Artemis Racing's CEO and the rest of the management team are preparing for a multi-challenger America's Cup event and investing in the future. It is the first time that the 17 sailors have sailed together. While they are disappointed that they did not qualify for the finals of this Louis Vuitton Cup, they are realistic. Young or old, all of them are very talented ACC sailors and know what it takes to win.

Said the ageless man with two around the world races, seven world championships and five America's Cups under his belt, 'I am happy where I am at 50.'

For more sailing news and features by Lynn Fitzpatrick see www.worldregattas.com

Also check out www.LouisVuittonTrophy.com/wsta , www.ArtemisRacing.com and www.cayardsailing.com

by Lynn Fitzpatrick