America’s Cup is Big Business. During the last year, we read a lot about the preparation and what is done to attract tourists to this remarkable event.
I did not think that I would get to watch the race live, let alone, that I would be able to photograph it. Nevertheless, the opportunity came when we received an email from our investment manager Peter Karp. (He is very good and I am very pleased with the results of my investments.) Apparently, a major social networking company canceled their reservation to watch the race from Forbes Island at the last minute and Peter’s firm received a call asking if he wanted to entertain his VIP clients. And since we were one of them—we were able to attend as well.
The images you see in this email are a few from hundreds that I took of the race. It is simultaneously a boring and exciting. Most of the time nothing was happening and then in a few minutes, two beautiful $10 million dollar 72 foot catamarans—creations of human ingenuity passed in front of us. Hitting speeds in excess of 20 knots (mi/hr), they glided without touching the water. Sometimes, it looked like they were going to collide into each other. At the end, the New Zealand team won both races. The first time, they beat an American Oracle team by 36 seconds, and the second round by 52-seconds. (Each team will have more races.)
The next day, I was curious to see the comments in the newspapers. Apparently, there are two factors which contribute to the win: One, according to the article in September 7th’s Wall Street Journal stated, “While cup teams must adhere to guidelines in building their yacht, there is enough leeway that one team can have a far superior design. So the fastest boat usually wins every time, no matter who is sailing.”
But there is one more factor.
According to the article in the San Francisco Chronicle on September 8th: “After beating Oracle Skipper Jimmy Spithill to the starting line in both races Kiwis (New Zealand Team), Skipper Dean Barker guided his team to leads at the first mark.”
But my true lesson, which reinforced both ideas for winning came while I was watching a seagull. For a strange reason, the bird would continuously fly up with an object in her beak and then seemed to have lost it by dropping it down on the concrete retaining wall. Someone pointed out to me that she was actually trying to break an oyster shell.
After she succeeded and was enjoying her meal, another bird just watched and was able to indulge on some left overs.
Who taught her that? Why is one bird superior to other creatures?
In the modern sailing world, more money does not always guarantee success (though it can help). Smart, repetitive work, and the right tools and a good team have better chances. And of course—the team needs a skipper, who guides the effort.
P.S.
On September 28th, our company Pacific Bay Financial Corporation will celebrate our 28 years young birthday. Over the years, many bigger companies and banks appeared and disappeared. In the game called “Life”, the true winners are those who stay in the game.
Do not keep me as a secret.
SMILE AND PLEASE SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND