A perspective on the Americas Cup
on Wednesday June 15, 2005 09:46AM
* From Stephen Wells: While I have totally lost interest in the cup it was interesting to read the AP (story in the New York Times (Little Things Mean a Lot). One really wonders how someone who could amass the necessary $300 million could spend it so foolishly. We are really lucky on the other hand that they didn't decide to spend it on running for president. The weight issue is really stupid. With over 50,000 pounds on the starting line and they are willing to risk a breakdown for a few ounces? I'll bet a statistician would tell them that it's worth at least 1,000 pounds extra to significantly reduce the chance of a breakdown. Remember a breakdown is a loss 100% of the time
There are four changes that a syndicate could make that could drastically increase the chances of winning at no cost: - Get the English majors out of the tech decisions - Make sure your driver has an IQ over 80 and isn't an alcoholic - that's really hard. - Hire a statistician to evaluate your major decisions - Don't give your designer final authority over anything - let them deliver the drawings and go away - hire an engineer to review the design - why be forced to deal with another big ego. - Make your driver practice against the instruments. You'd be amazed at how much there is to gain in speed and distance to the mark by applying a little calculus to the basic maneuvers - it's an ego problem for some really dumb people who don't want to take tacking lessons.
The final answer is that match races are not lost by seconds they are lost by finishing second.