America's Cup - What past winners show us about running your ship?

by Jane Watson on 17 Feb 2016 2017 America's Cup - Next year we will see competitors from across the globe battle for the 35th America’s Cup. On this occasion, teams from France, New Zealand, and Britain are a few of the challengers battling to take away the title from defending champion, Golden Gate Yacht Club.

Although the individual nations who have won the trophy are few and far between, there are a number of lessons that can be learnt from each of these victories.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Although the nature of a race is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, it can take decades to prepare. The very nature of the America’s Cup means that it isn’t contested until a qualified yacht club officially challenges the current winner, which in the past has taken up to 20 years.

As the oldest sporting cup that is still going, challengers need to be completely confident in their abilities before challenging. This is especially true as only four nations have come away victorious since the race began in 1851. Furthermore, until 1983, it was the New York Yacht Club that had won on every occasion.

Making sure that you are fully prepared before thinking about going on the water is what makes those challenges worthwhile and gives a chance to come home a champion. At Offshore Supply, we understand the importance of prep!

Striving for Excellence Can Result in Achieving It

No two boats used throughout the America’s Cup are the same, meaning that rival nations are constantly trying to better themselves. This can result in teams spying on one another to find out their challenger’s secrets, but more commonly it results in teams constantly looking for design changes that may give them an advantage.

The first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club was in 1983 when Australia took home the America’s Cup title. Their secret weapon was a radically-designed winged keel that gave them superior speed under most conditions. In order to prevent prying eyes, the Australians used ‘modesty skirts’ to cover their innovation when the 12-metre class boat was hauled from the water.

It certainly worked, as it was the first time that the America’s Cup had left the USA in its 132 years of existence.

It’s the Taking Part that Counts

Although coming home a champion is important to most professional athletes, the primary reason that you sail it is likely to be because you enjoy it. For every winner there has to be a loser, and being stripped of a title can result in a lesson that is just as important.

For instance, American Team Captain, Dennis Conner later stated that losing the title in 1983 had been good for the sport of sailing and the cup itself. This is because it became something that people appreciated once it had been lost.

The American team came back and won the title back in 1987.

So when it comes to running your own ship, it may be worth keeping these lessons from past winners of the America’s Cup in mind to keep you sailing at your best!