SpeedDream Profile - Cam Lewis - Skipper

Cam Lewis - skipper of SpeedDream

If you have followed sailing over the last three decades one name has always been at the forefront; Cam Lewis. From a young, hot dinghy sailor who won the Finn Gold Cup in 1980 and soon followed it with back-to-back world championship victories in the 505 class in 81/82, Cam has turned his ample sailing talent into a career at the cutting edge of the sport. Now, in between his time spent racing fast boats and commentating on events like the Americas Cup, Cam plays the hands-on role as skipper of SpeedDream.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the SpeedDream project,” Cam recently told a BBC film crew. “The leading edge of the sport is where SpeedDream is going to be pushing the edge, learning from it and really opening up people’s eyes to something a little bit different.” Learning, pushing the edge and opening up peoples eyes have been the hallmark of a three decade career as professional sailor for Cam and his trademark “Sail Fast” slogan which he has been applied to a broad section of sailboats from dinghies to super-multihulls.

In the early ‘90s Cam was invited by celebrated French sailor Bruno Peyron to be the only non-Frenchman aboard Commodore Explorer as they attempted to break the mythical Jules Verne 80-day circumnavigation time. The 86-foot catamaran seemed well suited for the job, but a 27,000 nautical mile circumnavigation is fraught with pitfalls and the crew had their fair share along the way. So it was with great relief that they crossed the finish line back in France with a scant 18 hours to spare. Their 79 day and 6 plus hours circumnavigation time would stand for many years and the accomplishment won Cam the coveted Rolex Sailor of the Year award.

Not satisfied with that accomplishment, Cam led a team to build a brand new 110-foot catamaran to participate in The Race, a new circumnavigation event for maxi-multihulls. On a tight budget, but with a crack team, Cam and company led the race into the Southern Ocean before the forward crossbeam started delaminating from the fire-hydrant intense waves. Team Adventure was sidelined for repairs both in South Africa and New Zealand, but still went on to finish in third place overall, a good showing despite the setbacks.

Cam is one of a few people that operate well at high speeds. He thinks best when the platform under him is skating perilously close to the edge be it skiing, ice boating or plain old sailing as a seriously fast pace. There is no panic; just pure adrenaline-filled bliss and a hunger to break new territory and win competitive races. From the outset Cam was enthusiastic about the possibilities of a boat like SpeedDream. Just how much possibility and potential the boat may have will soon be revealed as Cam takes the tiller and points the aft-raked bow toward the distant horizon on its maiden sail.

Cam being interviewed by the BBC for a Science of Speed program