Bombay harbour generally has fantastic sailing conditions; force 3 to 5 winds; 25 degree ambient temperature with points of interest generally conspiring to have punters sail on a beam reach.
After a few lessons anyone can be star helmsman, and we have many such that we have trained over the years.
Its a bit like being a manager in the Indian economy. Any old duffer can be a hero passagemaker so long as he can press on all available canvas.
The other day we were sailing in the harbour but in very light airs, against the tide and on a run.
Less experienced helmsmen were floundering, unable to stick to the mantra of keeping the boat moving at all costs because loss of momentum can stop you dead in the water.
They did not have the experience of these conditions for sure, but what they lacked more was the training to process a dozen points of information. They grew up looking at the jib telltales, more than enough to keep you cracking in our normal winds. They have not yet learned to read the sail shape, the wind on the water, the shroud telltales, the feel of a dead tiller.
I think that is why so many overseas purchases by Indian companies fail. The new masters know how to drive a boat in fair weather, and can manage a storm quite well, because we have those in our economy. How to drive a boat to a goal when you have little wind is a different art and one that relies on huge knowledge systems and not gut instinct.
That is a transition we will all make as our economy slows, but those who perfect the art now will be in a position to grab leadership in emerging areas of our economy, because, at the start, these can seem pretty anaemic.
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