The Difference

An interesting day to be watching the boats that will contest this year's Admiral's Cup

Go to the sharp end of any fleet, be that in dinghies, one-design keelboats, Admiral’s Cuppers, MOD70’s or even America’s Cup boats and there’s an assured quietness onboard. Usually it’s one person who has clear command and control, ably abetted by a co-ordinated team who just know what to do, when, and in what order. I saw it most recently going Round the Island on Powerplay (Zoulou) where Ned Collier-Wakefield was very much making the tactical and sail calls in a wonderfully concise and clear manner that gave huge confidence even when we were screaming at 34.5 knots. Ned’s crew were brilliant. Paul Larsen was almost God-like, everyone else knew just what needed tweaking and when, the French guys onboard were epically efficient whilst the rock star anglophiles just knew the boat like the back of their hand. It was a pleasure, a real unadulterated pleasure, to sail with them.