Creativity triumphs over technology!

The America's Cup, begun in 1851, is the oldest international sporting competition. It is the world's largest yacht race. Even the winner receives no prize money. Only the Cup and the honor. In 1988, the year New Zealand's team made its first appearance in the main event, I was born.

One sailor described the sport of yachting like this: "It's like tearing up hundred-dollar bills while taking a cold shower." In the America's Cup, competitors spare no expense, tearing up million-dollar bills if it means gaining even a slight edge over rivals.

Over these 30 years, racing yachts have evolved into "flying machines." The technology driving this transformation is nothing short of astonishing. They now possess the ability to move at three times the wind speed.

Despite continuous innovation, one thing remains unchanged: the need for robust physical strength to pull the ropes that move the sails (though today, humans generate the hydraulic pressure that activates the control systems). Sailors are called "grinders" because the components they operate resemble the handles of giant pepper mills.

In 2017, Team New Zealand deployed a secret weapon. Rejecting the conventional reliance on upper-body strength, they brought cyclists aboard the yacht. They were called "cyclers." The men straddled machines resembling gym exercise bikes. By effectively harnessing lower-body strength, they could surpass the power generated by the upper body. This concept and mechanism gave Team New Zealand an overwhelming advantage in steering technique. Their average speed shot up dramatically.

Once someone actually implements an idea, you wonder why no one ever thought of it before. Questioning and breaking conventions is crucial. If you want progress, you can't keep accepting the status quo. Don't settle for small improvements; create valuable transformation.

Operation Cyclone was a resounding success. They defeated Sweden, Great Britain, France, and Japan in the preliminary rounds, advancing to the finals. It was a one-on-one showdown with the defending champions, America. I was thrilled to find out the final result: Was Cyclone the ultimate winning idea? Could it overcome massive funding and cutting-edge technology?

(Translator's note: On June 26, 2017, Team New Zealand defeated Team USA 8-1 to win the Cup. They successfully claimed their third Cup victory, their first in 17 years!)

(Supervised by: Dentsu Inc. Global Business Center)