SAP has chosen a unique vehicle to demonstrate the wide applicability of its BI solutions – the 2009 505 World Sailing Championships which got underway in San Francisco Bay last weekend. This year, participants in the 505 Championship, known as one of the most exacting competitions in world sailing, will be able to draw on SAP BI capability for advanced charting, team strategy, for real time reporting that will engage spectators on a new interactive level, and for performance evaluation - which will no doubt be of interest to winners and losers alike. Beyond official sponsorship of the race, SAP is participating on an individual level: founder, Hasso Plattner is racing, as is SAP BusinessObjects CEO and avid sailor John Schwarz, who also acted as consultant on integration of SAP BI into the race.
Developed in France in the 1950’s, the Championship was intended as a race for speedy, “one-design” boats where the contest would be determined by the skill and strategy of the crew rather than the relative technical advance of the boat itself. This year, participants will be able to supplement their experience, skill and sailing acumen with SAP BI to help negotiate the San Francisco Bay course, which is known as one of the world’s most challenging due to complex wind and current patterns.
