Letters to BMW

May 21
“All of Our Tomorrows”
TFE and Oracle Team,
I know I speak for many here in the 'States that are disapointed that BMW-Oracle is not moving on to the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals and beyond, but it is important to remember that challenging for the America's Cup and winning it are building blocks on which to move forward. Sir Thomas Lipton tried 5 times to no avail, though almost grabbed it in 1920. Alan Bond won it on his 4th attempt and it took New Zealand 4 tries before winning,(though thru different challenges). You can say the Swiss won with the defending team from 2000 and not be far off the mark. The point I am trying to make here is, that it is important and vital for this challenge to continue towards the 33rd America's Cup. The pieces for a strong team are in place and though certainly mistakes were made, the best way to overcome and win is thru adversity. Certainly Oracle wasn't built in a day. My two cents worth;1] Take your team and compete vigerously on the European Match Circuit.2] Continue to work with Gavin Brady, Sten Mohr and develope some young rock stars.There is a lot of talent out there.3] Continue to work your ideas on US 87 and US 98.4] Build a strong network of supporting US Yacht Clubs and hold regattas in Newport, NewYork, San Diego, Chicago etc...5] Create an America's Cup sailing magazine or partner with an existing one to develope faninterest.6] Not to be overly critical of Chris or Larry's role, but don't give anyone person all the keys tothe store. Build a strong TEAM.7] Bring more US Corporations on board and most importantly bring home our sailors, like Peter Hutchinson, Ed Baird, Peter Holmberg etc.Good Luck and congratulations on your best efforts!
Waiting for more breakfast in Valencia,Mark Wharton Reid,Sunday, May 20, 2007


“It Takes Courage”
Chris,
It takes courage to make a change. Part of the responsibility of being a strong leader, is showing leadership. I have TFE'd over the last few days and have been very critical of your performance, but at the end of the day you are the man in charge. My word in your ear is this:take a good look at your team, you have assembled these pieces of the puzzle to complete the big picture. Which one of those pieces, right now, has the best chance at giving your team a lift, especially in the starting area. Because, the reality is that if you can control the start, you will win the race. Do this one race at a time, pull out the pieces and determine which one will be the best fit to complete the picture that day. You have shown exceptional leadership at times. Your drive across the Atlantic on Toshiba was brilliant! You displayed courage and fortitude, in bringing Sayanara and your crew home to port safely in the Sydney to Hobart Race in 1998, which claimed several lifes. You can do this, just have the courage and yes, some humility/humanity to make a shuffle to the back of the boat. Everyone is behind you. Lets do it!Looking forward to breakfast in Valencia, tomorrow.Mark Wharton Reid

May 19
“Davy Jones” Service
TFE,
Tom, I read your reply to a previous post. I can't believe that you, of all people are in this much denial. All you have to do is look at the long list of good sailors, that have left your team or been forced out over the last several years, to know that there is no "I" in team, though there is in "win", but Dickson has never won at this level. The Italians did come back from a 4-1 deficit in 1992, but that had more to do with their legal tactics and the bowsprit issue than coming back and grinding it out on the water. The tactics from the last few races seems to be a "groundhog day" replay of Stars and Stripes miracle finish against Mighty Mary in 1995 than any sense of sailing reality. What should have happened today after that terrible start (told you so) was to push the Italians into a penalty of their own, not going out to find a way to get 45 seconds ahead. In 2000 the Prada Team were exceptional in drawing blood to even the score after incurring a penalty. Tom, at what point do you accept responsibilty for this team and their actions? No one person can go it alone. There has to be a way to create positive dialogue for the 5th race. Again, what about have Sten Mehr start the boat and then turning over the wheel to Chris? Surely at this point, we know that James Spithill owns Dickson in the starting box. Anyway, good luck, we all all behind this effort, even if we are all pressed into "Davy Jones" service at the bottom of the Med Sea. Again, here's to breakfast in Valencia.Mark Wharton Reid

May 18
"Onions"
TFE, Well its come down to Larry exerting some long overdue leadership and having the "onions" to make a change. He has 2 choices:1] Sticking with his "Ahab" and sinking right to the bottom 2] Shaking up the afterguard and bringing Sten Mehr onboard for the start, before relinquishing the helm. It was this shakeup to the back of the boat in 2003 that allowed BMW-Oracle to crawl back. My greatest fear in 2004 was, when Peter Holmberg was let go and allowed to go to Alinghi, that BMW lost the abilty to have that aggression in the starting area pay dividends up the first legs and allow BMW''s superior downwind speed to dominate. Luna Rossa has been allowed to dictate the pace, that in combination with "breakdowns" has created an unacceptable outcome to date, but....its not to late. Don't wait. Restless at Breakfast,Mark Wharton Reid

May 17
“Seat Of The Pants Sailing”
TFE, What was challenging about today's conditions, was that with all the different shifts out there, you can toss that 19th man overboard and his computer and get down to some old fashioned seat-of-the-pants sailing. What happened to BMW-Oracle's ability to sniff out the wind shifts on the windward legs and be somewhat adaptable to the changing conditions? After sailing brilliantly to get back in the game downwind, Dickson seemed to go for the kill at the gate rather than staying with the Italians to start that 3rd leg. It was easy for the Kiwi's and the Spanish, all they had to do was watch the race ahead and play the shifts. Even though I am disappointed in today's results, hopefully there was some lessons learned in being;1] Be more adaptable to changing conditions, like staying w/ Luna Rosa cut your losses.2] be more responsive to pressure changes, it was obvious what was coming over the mountains, you don't have to be a billionaire to see that.3]BMW is the faster boat, be patient upwind and sail away downwind.4]Let the sailors do the sailing.Anyway, Go USA! From the North Shore,Mark Wharton Reid

May 5
“Dear Tom”
TFE,As someone who follows the America's Cup intently and with passion, I cannot feel anymore disappointed than what has happened this morning aboard BMW-Oracle. I have posted on your blog and am dropping you this note out of respect that with someone in your position and background, that you will help take the steps necessary to insure that this does not happen again.I am not Monday morning quarterbacking and I know you and I understand Chris and Larry enough that this "gear" problem on a "normal" breezy day should not happen to a $200 million dollar America's Cup campaign.Anyway, this is by no means an indictment against Sten Mohr, and I understand that there is a great party going on over in Valencia, but maybe its time to get to the business at hand and bring the America's Cup back home to America, where it belongs. Then you all can party like its 2010!
SINCERELY,Mark Wharton Reid

To those of you who slept in or haven't been paying attention, the American Boat BMW-Oracle mailed in a loss today against the Chinese, of all teams, losing the race after blowing a head stay after a gear failure. With points at a premium, every race is critical and losing this one is inexcusable. I wrote to BMW’s Executive Director and Rules Expert Tom Ehman, who has formerly worked as the Executive Director for the 28th America’s Cup and in Formula One with Mercedes McClaren, and his reply was:

Wow!
Glad you feel so strongly about supporting the USA team, but, really, Mr. Reid isn't that a bit over the top? Putting Sten and his team from 87 on 98 today was, in my opinion, a very good call by Dicko and our sailing team. Our 98 crew has been out there now almost every day for two weeks straight. With another nine continuous days of racing ahead of us, today was the best day to give them a break. The head foil problem could have happened to either crew. Indeed Dicko was driving when we had a similar problem in Act 13.So Mr. Reid, speaking of zipping it! But we certainly agree on one thing: anything short of winning the AC is failure. Despite today's minor setback, I wouldn't trade our position tonight with any other team -- not even close. --TFE

May 4
"National Embarrassment".
This is an inexcusable failure on the part of the after guard at BMW-Oracle! If complacency has already set in because your sitting in first place at the end of Flight #1, then its going to be a short trip to the next round and a long ride home. To have a repeat gear failure, the first day the breeze actually comes up and to take the Chinese fore granted is; and should be, cause for concern. Let’s face it; Chris Dickson has never won the big one. For him and Larry Ellison, not to be onboard today, displays in short order the "cocaine attitude" that prevails on the BMW-Oracle boat. This takes nothing away from the fine job that Sten Mohr has done and is doing, but the bottom line is; anything short of BMW-Oracle winning the America's Cup will be abject failure. It's Ellison that has raised the bar on this one, certainly not, (until today) an aloof America. So, boys, its time to drop your martinis, pull up your trousers, zip it up and get on with the job. From an American who is not asleep at the helm and spending breakfasts in Valencia. Mark Wharton Reid
Posted by Mark Wharton Reid May 07