The 34th America’s Cup is the eleventh straight AC campaign for Tom Ehman. A consummate veteran of international yachting, he has been at the forefront of many of the changes and innovations that have transformed top-level sailing into the modern, professional and more media-friendly sport that it is today. Notably, Tom spearheaded on-the-water umpiring that has been used in the America’s Cup since
he instituted it for the 1992 Cup in San Diego.
A former collegiate and North American sailing champion and winner of the 1976 Championship of Champions, at age 25 he became the youngest-ever Executive Director of the USA's national sailing association – indeed, the youngest of any national governing body for an Olympic sport in America.
Since he started with the America’s Cup in 1980, Tom has served in many roles including rules advisor, team executive, event manager, and chairman of the Challenger Commission. He is the only person of long-standing involvement in the Cup who has worked only for American campaigns – New York YC, San Diego YC, St. Francis YC, and now Golden Gate YC.
For the past three campaigns, Tom was Head of External Affairs for ORACLE Racing. He now serves as GGYC Vice Commodore and Managing Director of the GGYC America’s Cup Committee, as Executive Director of America’s Cup Properties, Inc. and as Director of External Affairs for the 34th America’s Cup.
