Flip-flops ("thongs" in Aussie; "jandals" in Kiwi) are popular footwear among sailors, and are daily attire for many of us in most any weather short of snow.

After three days here it got a bit chilly, and I reluctantly switched to proper shoes and socks. That's the day we lost to Alinghi.

I switched back to flip-flops, took a lot of good-natured grief from my dear colleagues (especially the marketing department), and had the Morning Show guests again wondering if their host had Scheiße for brains.

We have not lost a race since.

So, yesterday as I was boarding our VIP spectator boat Symfoni, the entire crew was standing at attention at the gangplank -- in BMW ORACLE Racing flip-flops.

Call it what you want -- charm, mojo, luck -- but there can be no question we had it going for us yesterday.


The charming crew of our VIP boat Symfoni.