Marblehead’s Trevor Burd, who began sailing at age 8, spent his childhood running around Pleon Yacht Club.
“The amount of freedom we had and the options we had with sailing were really cool,” said Burd, who attended Marblehead High. “That’s something I really appreciate.”
Years later, at age 34, the lifelong sailor just competed in the 37th America’s Cup regatta, the world’s oldest international sporting competition. It was Burd’s second Cup, which runs from August to late October in Barcelona.
“It really exposed me to a large variety of people,” said Burd, a cyclor on a U.S. challenger team called American Magic. “Different countries, different skillsets, different careers, and you really learn a lot about people.”
American Magic, which represents the New York Yacht Club, was eliminated in September by an Italian team called Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
“We didn’t do as well as we wanted. We were here to win, and the way it ends so abruptly is very challenging because you’re so immersed and it’s all you think about and all you talk about,” Burd said. “You flip the switch and it’s all over.”
But not without takeaways. Being a cyclor, Burd helped create the hydraulic power used to control the sails and hydrofoils.
The physicality required was no joke.
“We were doing physical training three years out when we realized we were switching from grinding to bikes,” said Burd, who began full-time on the team two years ago. “So, the physical side, we were doing 12 or 15 – or more – hours a week on the bike throughout the last few years. And the gym as well, just to avoid injury.”
But in the end, Burd enjoyed it. Despite admitting to its challenges, he also enjoyed being able to “live and breathe” the sport.
“It’s very rare in life when you get to dedicate yourself so completely to anything. It doesn’t matter – any job or any endeavor,” said Burd, a four-time national champion and two-time world and North American champion. “For me, I think that’s the really cool thing about the America’s Cup. You truly live and breathe it for years. The people you work with – you see them six or seven days a week and 12 hours a day.”
Yes, the relationships, aka, “friends for life.
“You don’t necessarily know if you’ll drift apart or stick together, but on the sailing side of it, it’s exposed me to a lot of incredibly-talented sailors,” Burd said. “There was so much I could learn.”
When asked if he’ll take part in another Cup, Burd took a moment to reflect.
“There are always some moments, especially after a few losses, where you ask yourself if this is something I want to put myself through – the amount of energy and work you put in. You ask yourself: Is it worth it if we don’t think we can win?” he said. “But then, you get a little bit of time and some perspective. … You get the call and you say, ‘Let’s do it again.’”
Despite sailing through worldwide waves, Burd still appreciates his time in Marblehead.
“It’s funny. I haven’t done much sailing in Marblehead for ages, but I think it was really cool being a kid and being able to run around Pleon.” he said. “And, obviously, the heritage of Marblehead. There are a lot of really talented sailors who come out of Marblehead and people I look up to.
“They might’ve done America’s Cups or something when I was a kid, and I thought that was really cool,” he said. “It’s really strange for me now after being involved in a few America’s Cups.”
