A couple of threads over a SA have posted a link to an interesting article. Many AC followers had most of this figured out, but it does add a little more detail on when OR figured out what and then the struggle to translate knowledge into winning on the water:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303393804579312803907849782
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303393804579312803907849782