Ed Baird
Encyclopedia
Ed Baird is an American
sailor. He was a coach of the 1995 America's Cup
-winning Team New Zealand
and a helmsman
for the 2007 America's Cup
-winning Alinghi
syndicate.
Growing up in Florida, Baird raced in the Optimist
class at junior level, before moving onto other dinghies. He won the World Laser
Championships in 1980 and the World J/24
Championships in 1983.
Baird joined Team New Zealand
as a coach for the 1995 America's Cup
, guiding the syndicate to New Zealand's first ever Cup win. In the same year, he won the World Match Racing Championships, and was named the US's Yachtsman of the Year. The following year, he failed to qualify for the 1996 Olympic Games in the Soling
class, missing out again in 2000. In 1999, he skippered Young America in the Louis Vuitton series to determine the challenger for the following year's America's Cup, but the syndicate's challenge faltered when one of its two yachts nearly sank in a race against a Japanese team. He joined another American syndicate for the challenger series for the 2003 America's Cup, but was again unsuccessful. Baird has also ventured into open water racing, having competed in round the world races
in 1997–98 (for Innovation Kvaerner) and 2001–02 (for Djuice Dragons).
As a member of the Alinghi
team for the 2007 America's Cup
, he was selected ahead of Peter Holmberg
as the yacht's helmsman for the final series against Team New Zealand
. Despite reports of a strained relationship between Baird and the yacht's skipper Brad Butterworth
, the syndicate won the series 5-2. Later in 2007, he was named the International Sailing Federation
's male World Sailor of the Year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sailor. He was a coach of the 1995 America's Cup
1995 America's Cup
The 29th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1995 Citizen Cup, Team Dennis Conner, with the yacht Stars & Stripes , and the winner of the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup, Team New Zealand, with the yacht Black Magic .-Races:-Team New Zealand:-Team Dennis Conner:-References:*...
-winning Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
and a helmsman
Helmsman
A helmsman is a person who steers a ship, sailboat, submarine, or other type of maritime vessel. On small vessels, particularly privately-owned noncommercial vessels, the functions of skipper and helmsman may be combined in one person. On larger vessels, there is a separate officer of the watch,...
for the 2007 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
-winning Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
syndicate.
Growing up in Florida, Baird raced in the Optimist
Optimist (dinghy)
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fiber reinforced plastic, although wooden boats are still built....
class at junior level, before moving onto other dinghies. He won the World Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
Championships in 1980 and the World J/24
J/24
The J/24 is an International One-Design keelboat class as defined by the International Sailing Federation. The J/24 is a one design class created to fulfill the diverse needs of recreational sailors such as cruising, one design racing, day sailing and handicap racing.The J/24 is the world's most...
Championships in 1983.
Baird joined Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
as a coach for the 1995 America's Cup
1995 America's Cup
The 29th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1995 Citizen Cup, Team Dennis Conner, with the yacht Stars & Stripes , and the winner of the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup, Team New Zealand, with the yacht Black Magic .-Races:-Team New Zealand:-Team Dennis Conner:-References:*...
, guiding the syndicate to New Zealand's first ever Cup win. In the same year, he won the World Match Racing Championships, and was named the US's Yachtsman of the Year. The following year, he failed to qualify for the 1996 Olympic Games in the Soling
Soling
A Soling is a class of open keelboat designed by Jan Linge of Norway in 1965. In 1968, it was chosen from among many other boats to be the men's triple-handed boat for the 1972 Olympics...
class, missing out again in 2000. In 1999, he skippered Young America in the Louis Vuitton series to determine the challenger for the following year's America's Cup, but the syndicate's challenge faltered when one of its two yachts nearly sank in a race against a Japanese team. He joined another American syndicate for the challenger series for the 2003 America's Cup, but was again unsuccessful. Baird has also ventured into open water racing, having competed in round the world races
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
in 1997–98 (for Innovation Kvaerner) and 2001–02 (for Djuice Dragons).
As a member of the Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
team for the 2007 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
, he was selected ahead of Peter Holmberg
Peter Holmberg
Peter Holmberg is a sailor from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who won a silver medal in Men's Finn Class in the 1988 Summer Olympics, his country's only Olympic medal so far. He was born on Saint Thomas.-External links:*...
as the yacht's helmsman for the final series against Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
. Despite reports of a strained relationship between Baird and the yacht's skipper Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
, the syndicate won the series 5-2. Later in 2007, he was named the International Sailing Federation
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
's male World Sailor of the Year.