When T. Vincent Learson, then president of IBM, decided in 1966 to enter the Newport-to-Bermuda yacht race, he was given some jocular advice by his boss, Chairman Thomas J. Watson Jr. "You'd better not win if you expect to stay at IBM," cracked Watson, an annual contender in the race. Vince Learson, a hulking (6 ft. 5 in., 200 lbs.) natural-born competitor, quietly continued his preparations, which included signing on a crew whose record in past races was statistically outstanding. When the sailing classic had ended, Learson's stock fiber glass ocean racer...
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