Corporate Sailing Events

Corporate sailing events provide an excellent opportunity for employees to not only learn some new skills but learn more about their colleagues and how to work better as a team.

Cultivating Successful Teams

The latter part of the 20th century saw the emergence of a new term in the ever expanding book of company jargon – ‘team building’. This is the cultivation of a team that works together towards a common goal. This new concept was seen as the new way forward in businesses providing a quality service and remaining competitive.

Organised team building activities are now a familiar part of corporate life, and are big business for those in charge of making them happen. Yachting adventures, quad biking, pigeon shooting, falconry are just a few of many different activities put on by companies to get teams to work together or just celebrate the good work they’ve done.

The Benefits of Team Building

Participants in team building sailing events claim that the teamwork and camaraderie developed during their thrilling experience has led to a higher productivity and enthusiasm within the workplace. Many also say that it has given them fresh and positive insights into their colleagues’ behaviour and improved their working relationships.

The Ultimate Team Building Sport

Sailing is widely hailed as one of the most effective sports at facilitating team building. Besides being an exhilarating and unforgettable experience, an adventure on board ship encompasses all the vital elements of good teamwork – communication, leadership, delegation, motivation and planning. If participants are not operating like a well-oiled machine by the end of the exercise then maybe a company personnel reshuffling might well be in order.

Typical Sailing Itineraries

There are now a great many different event management companies around the UK specialising in corporate entertainment, and some specifically on sailing and boating. Many pride themselves on tailoring the event to the team’s particular needs and wants, rather than providing a standardised programme of activities. Nevertheless a typical hands-on day sail would not deviate too much from this itinerary:

• Introduction.
• Briefing session.
• Shore-based exercise.
• Safety briefing on board the yacht.
• Acclimatisation voyage, with basic sail training.
• Small event – such as a mini-race, time trial or points exercise.
• Debrief.

For the more adventurous, sailing events are also available over more extended periods, over weekends or - for the real ‘make or break’ team building exercise - a week. There are also events that are geared less towards learning the ropes and than experiencing the unique sensation of being on a speeding sailboat. Some companies, for instance, offer corporate clients the opportunity to compare the wonders of sail with those of a high speed RIB or power boat.

Sailing and Team Building Skills

As well as valuable work skills like decision making, self-confidence, good communication and leadership, participants in a team building sailing event can expect to come away with a basic understanding of the essential sailboat skills of navigation, boat handling and sail trimming. They may also step back on to dry land with a new found passion for sailing.