domingo, 26 de março de 2006

Port Log 81 – One size fits all





Since when part of the industrial revolution decided that human beings fell into a pre-determined physical dimensions grid and started to produce clothes of pre-established sizes, the differences between us humans have considerably diminished. Or have become less perceptible to say the least. Save from rare and extreme examples like some sophisticated Italian shoes’ manufacturers that introduced the Half Point in sizes or the everyday more uncommon ‘made to measurement’, we have turned into a society that has to happily adjust between S and XL.


The impressively big small details
Then it is left up to people’s personalities and behaviors the duty to demarcate the differences, even when disguised in capital letters that mercilessly hide or reveal attributes.

In a sailing boat, in such a spectacular and exciting competition as the Volvo Ocean Race, it is also the small details, in the beginning of little significance or strategically concealed, that make the big difference, even when the rules impose codes and limits that go from precise Ss to concise XLs.

Sizes and weights of hulls, rigging and sails are determined and constantly scrutinized; the number in the crew is established, everything has to respect the limits and fit in the constituted matrix, but… (there is always a “but”, isn’t true?) is exactly there that enters the planning, the preparation, the talent and so on.


Homogeneous and hegemonic
This is what we saw in the leg that since it left Rio until it got to Baltimore, even not being abundant in different conditions of breeze, presented unique opportunities to be well exploited.

The weather system with its lows and highs dictated the rhythm of the fleet; the navigator’s strategies were all based on how to anticipate the moments. Some managed to avoid then the traps and vanished in the lead as it was the case of ABN AMRO ONE, followed by movistar on an almost constant thirty something miles of difference during the last days. It was an amazing demonstration of control by the crew in the Dutch boat, that everyday shows a little bit more the quality of their so homogeneous talents. Leg, after Leg, after Leg maintaining a pace that is both constant and colossal, indefatigable and unreachable.



Weather Express
The other boats, for different motives of choice or lack of luck, were left well behind, including ABN AMRO TWO, until here the most positive and welcomed surprise of the 2005-2006 edition of the Volvo Ocean race. The Kids from TEAM ABN AMRO remained parked in a windless hole and lost the “Weather Express”, being forced to rely on a 2nd generation of frontal systems. But they did not lose their “Fighting Mode” and promise to return to fight for their so well kept second place overall.

There are four legs, three in port races and one scoring gate to be sorted out until the arrival estimated for June 17 in Gothenburg. In total there are a maximum of 42 points to be conquered, for us to know the three podium occupants. A podium made to measurement to be shared by only three crews while reserving the top spot for the one that exceeded in all aspects. The campaign that will serve as a model and that will be reference and measurement to be copied during all the next editions of the Volvo Ocean race.

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