The sailing world's worst kept secret

Paul Cayard confirmed as skipper of the 'Pirates' Volvo Ocean Race entry

Paul Cayard is set to return to one of the toughest and most gruelling competitions in sailing. It also happens to be one of his favourites.

It's the Volvo Ocean Race, the round-the-world race, which he won in 1997-98 - the first US skipper in the history of the race to do so. "It was the most exciting race of my life, one that has left an indelible mark on my professional career and provided me with the most on a human level. That's why I decided to do it again", says Cayard, on the verge of a great sea and shore adventure.

The entry is part of a unique marketing alliance between The Walt Disney Company and Volvo Ocean Race supporting the July 2006 feature film release of Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. "Disney's involvement in the project has been another determining factor," Cayard continues. "It's an enormous opportunity to introduce the general public to sailing and to the Volvo Ocean Race. I simply couldn't say "no" to a proposal of this scope."

The Black Pearl, the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest boat, is designed by Farr Yacht Design and is currently under construction at Green Marine in the UK. The launch of the boat is scheduled for the end of August.