Team Building on a Tall Ship A team building case study with a difference  - from Red Sky Sailing

An international bank was looking for an activity event in summer 2004 to tie in with a senior management development course aimed at defining the strengths and weaknesses of the company’s management both as a team and as individuals. Working with training consultants the brief was to provide a demanding environment that provided a challenge both intellectually and physically, where teamwork and communication were paramount.

However, they did not want to submit the team to a survival-style course and they had already rejected a number of “themed” activities as they felt the content was too contrived to provide a realistic scenario for the group.

Red Sky Sailing was approached to design an event to fit the brief. They selected the Netherland 62 metre brigantine Swan Fan Makkum, the largest two masted ship in the world, built in the style of a traditional windjammer in 1993 by naval architect Olivier van Meer.

The group of 28 senior managers arrived on board the Swan Fan Makkum in Southampton on a Monday evening in August. They sat down to a three-course dinner served up by the ship’s chef in the main saloon before moving to the bar for a nightcap (or two!). On retiring to their cabins they were pleased to discover each twin cabin comes with an en-suite shower and toilet so there would be no hardship on this front.

The following morning, the group was up early and enjoyed a hearty breakfast before being divided into 3 teams (watches) and attending the captain’s briefing. The teams were then put to work on the ship working in rotations of 4 hour periods under the watchful eyes of the captain and professional crew. At any one time one team would be “On Watch”, another “Mother Watch” and the third “Off Watch”.

The Swan Fan Makkum then left Southampton and headed off for the channel as the teams learned about life on board and how to sail the ship.

The team On Watch were responsible for everything than happened on deck and sailing the ship. This required them to learn to navigate, steer the ship, set the sails, heave on ropes, climb the 45 metre mast and keep a look out. Despite it being summer the British weather was there to throw in some extra challenges with some less than seasonal winds and a few showers to keep the team on their toes. Setting a sail on a ship of this size can take 6 or 7 people to hoist it into position and often requires communicating with someone else 40 metres away upwind. In rough conditions a lack of care can lead to breakages on board and possible injury to the crew.

The Mother Watch team discovered they were responsible for the less glamorous duties of cooking and cleaning for the four hour period. They found themselves preparing lunch or dinner for all on board, polishing brass, scrubbing the decks and repairing sails. Keeping the ship clean and the crew fed well are paramount to the crew’s well-being, safety and morale. After a hard watch on deck the efforts of Mother Watch were much appreciated by the team.

The Off Watch team would normally spend their time relaxing in their cabin but in this instance they were tasked with observing their colleagues at work. There was also the opportunity to discuss their observations with the trainer and to consider a different approach when it came to their turn. There was also time to prepare for their evening task.

Each team was tasked with providing entertainment for the team in the evening after dinner. The members of each team were required to perform a sketch, song or poem to entertain the others. With the ship anchored in Poole Harbour, the group took on the task with a great deal of enthusiasm. All decided to perform more than one act and many displayed some amazing hidden talents!

Despite the evening’s frivolities the teams were up again the following morning and back on duty rotating through the tasks. With everyone feeling more confident about the day ahead the captain added a few unexpected events to keep everyone on their toes. These included a man-overboard exercise, a “fire” in the galley and the chance to take to the ship’s RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and blast around the Solent at high speed.

On arriving back in Southampton on the Wednesday evening there was a chance for one final debrief session before saying their fond farewells and signing-off as crew.

This kind of team building activity is not as expensive as you might think. There are a lot more expensive team building exercises around and you may find yourself living in a tent! A group of about 30 could have the amazing two days described above from £280 per person per day with full board.

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