The book tackles tricky questions such as: how much is survival in extreme situations down to chance? How much self-confidence is too much... and can lead to disaster? Each area of knowledge is illustrated with examples from sailing.
"Competing in sailing's elite events - the Olympics, the America's Cup or professional ocean racing requires high-level knowledge across many disciplines. It demands knowledge of science, engineering, data analytics, computer science, simulation and modelling, deal making, - finance, human resources, management, marketing and communications - and that's before anyone gets in a boat," explains Chisnell.
In the following extract, he reveals how legendary sailor Michel Desjoyeaux's extreme problem-solving abilities helped him win the Vendée Globe.
FINDING A SOLUTION
There are many times when the problem is not the sifting of knowledge, not the sorting through it looking for information we can trust - sometimes the problem is the absence of knowledge, the lack of a solution to a problem.
What is probably my favourite story in the book turns on an inspired piece of thinking. However, it's not the brilliance of the solution that's the point (dazzling though it is): the point is that this kind of thinking can be learnt, can be practised and can be improved.
"It was the last day of 2000 and, when I started the engine the previous day, I'd heard a bad noise, but I didn't care. The day after, I wanted to start it again to charge the battery and nothing happened when I switched on the contact and pushed on the start button... So, my first job was to remove the starter to understand why it didn't switch on. I removed it from the engine and then I opened it, and I found out all the brushes are more or less dust, nothing repairable."
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2024 de Yachting World.
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TAKING OWNERSHIP
WILL BRUTON ON UPSKILLING ON BOARD
SPECIAL REPORT
DAN HOUSTON ON CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING FORECAST
NAVIGATION BRIEFING
TOM CHENEY ON RACING ACROSS THE CHANNEL
NEW YACHTS
SOME EXCITING, AND VERY DIFFERENT, NEW 40-FOOTERS
21ST CENTURY TWINS
RM'S DISTINCTIVE NEW FLAGSHIP OFFERS AN ENTICING COMBINATION OF GOOD SAILING QUALITIES, SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND TWIN KEELS AS STANDARD
UNLIKELY HERO
A CROSS-EUROPE ADVENTURE IN A 10FT DINGHY SEES SANDY MACKINNON NEARLY COME A CROPPER OFF WHITSTABLE’S MUD FLATS
HER OWN WAY
COLE BRAUER IS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN TO SAIL SOLO NON-STOP AROUND THE WORLD. HELEN FRETTER FINDS OUT HOW SHE’S SHAKING THINGS UP
THE MIGHTY ESSEQUIBO
JAMES AND JAYNE PEARCE DISCOVER THEIRS IS THE ONLY YACHT IN THE COUNTRY CRUISING REMARKABLE GUYANA
CAPE NORTH
CRUISING BEYOND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, JANNEKE KUYSTERS AND WIETZE VAN DER LAAN ENJOY A SURPRISING SUMMER IN NORWAY
DOWN WINDING
WHICH DOWNWIND SAILS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU? AND HOW DO YOU TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SAIL HANDLING ON A TRADEWIND PASSAGE? TOBY HODGES QUIZZED MORE THAN 240 SKIPPERS IN LAST YEAR'S ARC TO FIND OUT