Trevor has been wondering for some time why I seem to be exceeding our
targets by 10%. Well, he finally confronted me today saying that the %
performance that is being diplayed on our instruments was not consistent
with the table of targets that I have pinned on the wall.
Perhaps I should explain. We are using a fantastic routing and race
navigation software called Expedition. At its heart is a database of "polar
targets" i.e. the speed it thinks we should be doing for any given wind
speed and angle. And last season I discovered the motivating effect it had
on my crew when I displayed a % versus target on one of the instruments -
they were so focussed.
Determined to find out why, I reverted to the manual. What a "Numpty"!
Expedition defines "Target %" as performance directly upwind or downwind.
But we were sailing across the wind. It also has another definition "Polar
Boat Speed %" which we should have been using.
So now performance against target turns out to be 85%! Need to work harder
on triming those sails.
Which all goes to prove my theory that performance against target has more
to do with ones ability to negotiate a target than on delivering
performance - beware of KPIs!
Rich.
2015 Campaign
Campaigning for the 2015 AZAB Race & Rolex Fastnet Race
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2012
(62)
-
▼
June
(57)
- Drinking up the atmosphere
- Fine food
- Medals
- Newport welcome
- The first drink ashore!
- Nearly there!
- Nantucket sleighride
- Land Ahoy
- Incoming!
- Gimbals
- Current affairs
- Westward bound
- Flies!
- Riders on the storm
- Caption Competition
- Tropical Spirit
- Dear Prudence
- The Birds
- One for the Rhode
- JT - clarification
- JT retires from the race
- Spinnaker at sunset
- A heads up to all inventors
- It's grand in the banks!
- Grouse or duck
- You promised us icebergs!
- Wild West Rodeo Show
- It's a dog
- A Bosch Job
- Tail of the Bank
- Grace - where are you when I need you?
- Trevor stands in as Navigator
- Dry as a bone
- Black and white
- The perfect wave
- Surfin' USA
- Atlantic High Court is convened
- Leather or rubber?
- Highland games and trouble with George
- Forestay Luff holds together
- Shortening Sail?
- Light in the darkness
- Trev, sheet in the radar please.....
- KPIs
- So long and thanks for all the ...
- Here is the BBC...
- Keep on Commenting
- My ears are hallucinating
- Dream Sleep
- The first two days
- Bishops Rock on the beam
- Loving the view
- A stitch in time....
- Certified!
- blogging via Iridium
- Spying on the competition
- Crew change
-
▼
June
(57)
If it floats your boat and gives you the feel good factor thats worth a lot, after all aren't target meant to be:-
ReplyDeleteSelective, Memorable, Aspiring, Robust, Trashable?
Sounds SMART enough to me.
Well, well, well!!!To the uninitiated I say keep trimming those sails!! You'll get there in the end. I am glad to see that you are both keeping the brain cells working. Your blogs are very readable and would probably expect a book to come out of all this - you could be famous. Am enjoying the tracking and don't let Captain Waddle eat all those flapjacks. Must off to watch rugby!! G:)
ReplyDeleteOh Janey, you are very good - we can tell who is in the workforce still, all this targeting and smarting sounds like management meetings to me - my mind is on chook pens and what rugby team to follow next!!!! and I agree, just keep afloat. G:)
ReplyDeletePolars... Dont mention polar bears to Sir Waddle- - he'll panic then you ll be in trouble he might start reallllly rationing...
ReplyDeleteAs for the targets - hope it hasnt thrown the Nav off to much! still your cracking along well and only wish the tracker would update every minute not every hour... Im addicted and seeking a councillor. Ill book you in for your return trip boys...