Observation. This past weekend Bermuda experienced a “Foil Fest”. This was an event in which the America’s Cup catamarans put on a demonstration which consisted of a series of races on a course laid out so that spectators on land and on boats could witness it up close.

One of the most unique aspects of this event was the presence, as a result of the Newport to Bermuda yacht race, of the replica schooner, America, the first winner of this event which now carries its name — the America’s Cup.

On many occasions during this event the superfast foiling catamarans sped past the schooner as she went on a back and forth course parallel to the racecourse. The contrast was quite amazing to visualise the changes in technologies that have not only affected sail racing but our own lives. The number of pictures taken by smart phones at this event would be almost impossible to calculate.

Take a moment today and assess how the changes in technology in all aspects of our lives continue to get all of us to learn new methods and processes for doing things and therefore, I hope, lead to better communication between all of us.

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.” - Sir Robert Baden-Powell