On Saturday, Dane finished the sale of a 202-foot Trinity yacht to a Russian businessman, over lunch, before sitting down for a chat with a reporter. Next up for the New Orleans native: A return to Qingdao and the 10-race Star regatta, beginning Aug. 15.

THE RACES

Building on a theme, Dane has left nothing to chance.

His team researched 20 years of weather conditions in Qingdao and found that, on average, the wind blows at more than 10 knots only two days per month.

Consequently, the Star he and Sperry will sail is built and rigged for light winds. "We've made a conscious role of the dice," Dane said. "We will have equipment that will be best in light wind.

US SAILING TEAMDane spared no expense in his efforts to sail in the Olympics, running it much like a scaled-down America's Cup campaign."If we get three days of 15 knots, if a typhoon comes in, we could be in trouble."

Dane expects to feel at home in the waters off Qingdao. "It has tricky currents, light wind, heat and humidity," he said. "Aside from the currents, that sounds a lot like New Orleans. I'm comfortable in that venue."

Dane grew up in New Orleans and attended Tulane University, where he earned a Ph.D in civil engineering. He learned to sail with his father, a member of the Southern Yacht Club, and was a top collegiate sailor.

He had a chance to crew for Bill Ficker on Intrepid during the 1970 America's Cup defense, but Dane decided to stay home in New Orleans and work. The father of seven (and grandfather of two) built up a successful ship-building business, only to see his east New Orleans shipyard, as well as his home in Pass Christian, Miss., destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Dane immediately planned on rebuilding. He sent 500 employees $1,500 each, and spent $4 million on 100 mobile homes to house his displaced workforce.

Then he went back to work in Gulfport, and Trinity bounced back. He said the company now employs 1,000 and generates about $175 million in annual sales of 6-7 luxury yachts of 140 feet and up.

THE OBSESSION

Still, the Olympics bug nagged him. Like the white whale tormented Ahab.

"My life's been blessed," Dane said. "All the way through my life, through family, business, I've been very successful. But I had one unfulfilled dream."

That was the Olympics, always just outside his grasp.

His closest calls, after 1968, came in 1972, when he was fourth in the Soling class; in 1976, when he was third in a Finn; and in 1984, when he was fourth in a Star.

"I tried seven times. Finally, on No. 7, we got one."

Via e-mail, Sperry said his father-in-law feels a sense of achievement.

"I think J.D. has been waiting for this moment his entire life," he wrote. "He is extremely successful in everything he does, and he is a winner. It's been eating at him to compete at the Olympics."

THE EXPERIENCE

Dane concedes there are times when he feels his 58 years. "If alcohol and Advil were banned substances, I'd be in trouble," he said with a chuckle.

He gets a lot of isometric work on his legs and torso, when hiking out, but concedes that Sperry, 30, has the more athletic role to fill. Dane is convinced both are ready to handle the physical demands of handling the Star.

Said Sperry: "He has the energy of a teenager that just got his driver's license. He is 58, but I think hanging around our team has kept him young. His energy is contagious."

Meanwhile, some around the Games have trouble coming to grips with the reality that old salt Dane is a competitor.

"What I hear most," he said, "is, 'What are you coaching?' Two-thirds of people ask me that.

"At the dock, TV people walk up to the boat and ask for the helmsman. And I'll say that's me, and they'll say, 'The helmsman, not the coach.' And when they finally figure it out, I'll get, 'Oh, so sorry ' about 50 times."

Dane and Sperry are ranked No. 17 in the world and are considered long-shot contenders for a medal in the 15-boat field. Dane notes that five skippers in the competition already have Olympic medals.

Sperry says Dane is undaunted.

"This campaign has fired a spark deep somewhere inside of him. It's like he has some unfinished business.

"This isn't about selling a mega-yacht or making more money. He has enough of all that. This is about being the best, being the underdog and proving to himself and others that no matter what your age or background you can be successful in anything you do as long as you work harder than the next guy."

Said Dane: "I'll be disappointed if I'm not in the top five. I really think we have a chance to medal. I think the program we put together is up there with anybody else. We left no stone unturned."