I have been taken by two potentially contrasting bits of potted wisdom recently. John Bertrand , the skipper of Australia II who first won the America's Cup from the USA for Australia 30 years ago in 1983, coming from 1/3 down to win 4/3, has been interviewed multiple times recently as the anniversary is marked. It has fortuitously coincided with the Oracle Team USA remarkable defense last week in San Francisco of the current America's Cup, 9/8 against Team New Zealand, after coming back from being 1/8 down. One of the observations Bertrand made was that in high pressure, high stakes situations, such as coming from behind to win a regatta when a single loss means failure, is to remove all thought and speculation on the consequences of defeat or victory in any race, and focus wholly on the task at hand, the process required to win . Seems like good advice to me and James Spithall who skippered Team USA and his crew must have taken it to heart. By way of superficial contra
Stirring grist, grizzle and gore to flavour the stew.