Olympic 470’s sailor Luke Patience was allocated to my boat crewed by 8 novice sailors in the first pre-Olympic corporate sailing challenge for Accenture Olympic 2012 sponsors. With 8 knots of breeze and about an hour to go before lunch, we practiced a few basic manoeuvres, our goal to set up our boat to compete in an afternoon race against 4 more Olympic sailors. Luke coached the team on sailboat do’s and don’ts and identified helmsmen and sail trimmers from amongst the crew. A gifted tactician, Luke supported me in teaching the team to handle the boat.

After lunch, we headed to the start line off the Isle of Wight coast near Cowes in water that was crowded with yachts and a constant stream of passing tankers. The Olympic sailors on each boat helmed at the start and two times Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Ayton was first away with our boat a length behind but in an advantageous position to windward with the rest of the fleet trailing slightly. The upwind mark was tucked in to the beach on the north side of the Solent. The choices were either to take the stronger westerly wind and stay in the stronger tide, or tack into the shallows avoiding the tide at the expense of a stronger breeze. Sarah headed for the breeze; we went in for the tide.

Sarah reached the windward mark 3 boat lengths ahead of us with the rest of the fleet 2-5 boat lengths behind us.  The next mark was down wind and tide. To avoid us casting our wind shadow her way, Sarah gybed away towards the beach. We headed the same way but on a more direct line to the next mark. The fleet wisely left us to fight and went straight for the mark.  Sarah managed to hold us off and rounded the mark only ½ a boat length ahead. The fleet behind us had suffered in a continued fight for third.

Calshot Spit was our next mark and on a falling tide it is where a tidal flow going East and the southerly flow exiting Southampton Water meet. The wind still astern, we selected a route that was north of Sarah’s and that took greater advantage of the tide allowing us to level.

As the now windward yacht, Sarah had luffing rights on us and took full advantage. Inching ahead slowly we, raced north towards Calshot beach, a line of mud, sand and shingle deposited on the eastern end of Southampton water as it empties into the Solent.
We couldn’t break clear ahead and as the depth gauge dropped steadily from 6m below the keel to a gut lifting 0.2, it was clear from the terrifying grin on Sarah’s face that we were not going to get the water we were begging for in time.

Luke scandalised the sails and with a zero showing on the depth gauge we swung hard to starboard, our pulpit clearing Sarah’s stern with a heart stopping inch to spare and left us pointing towards the finish line with a straight drag race. With adrenalin levels at a shockingly high level we worked the boat like crazy and tried every trick. We were a boat length clear ahead, but Sarah’s yacht climbed back up, stealing our precious breeze from her windward position. Sarah’s yacht took line honours with less than a metre on us.

If you have sailed in regattas before, you will know that the yachts are generally matched so that they are within a couple of % of each other. The biggest difference to performance comes from the crew, which typically only has basic training in sailing, as this is all we have time for on a corporate event. But having an Olympic sailor of Luke’s pedigree on board adds a whole new dimension.  Olympic sailors practice, work and then polish their sailing knowledge, skills, behaviours, mind, body and boat. Luke’s total confidence and belief in the team, his clear communication and exceptional grasp of strategy and tactics drove us to levels of performance that seemed impossible.

If you are interested in sailing with Olympians, call 0870 609 2038 or email: Team Voyage 

The team arrived the evening before the one day Team Voyage programme to sail two 40ft yachts from Port Hamble in the Solent. Dinner with the skippers and course facilitators gave them the opportunity to relax and ask questions about the voyage ahead
Training started on shore early the next morning.  Delegates were introduced to the theory of high performance teamwork and the teamship model. Thinking about how their ideal ‘dream’ team would operate and making comparisons to how they currently work together, the team started to focus on closing that gap and imagine what it would be like to experience high performance team work.

Keen to get started, the teams made their way back onto the boats for the first exercise of the day. ‘Academy’ breaks sailing a boat down into a series of roles – helm, sail trim, navigator, etc. and provides a written brief for each role. Everybody in the team is given a role and using the brief and other information sources, has to learn then to perform their role. Within an hour or so, the teams are sailing the yachts towards Cowes under the watchful eye of the skipper and psychologist trainer.

This environment is perfectly suited to learning about communication, conflict, decision making and teamwork – all of which can be taken back and immediately employed in the workplace. Over lunch on board the team’s performance was analysed by the trainers and individuals were given feedback and ideas on how they could perform better. The afternoon saw the teams put their feedback to instant use as they went into direct competition with each other in the Fast Sailing exercise.

Back on shore the teams reconvened for prize giving and final debriefs.  Over a few drinks delegates had time to reflect on the experience and look forward to implementing their new skills and knowledge back at work.

“This was a very worthwhile experience – it made the challenges and benefits of team working very real” the team’s manager commented.

This was my first time sailing – totally relevant to the workplace and great fun, too.”

“The main learning point for me has been team communication and support.”

If you are interested in finding out more about TeamShip, call 0870 609 2038 or email: Team Voyage 

These are the classic 5 corporate entertainment mistakes that are guaranteed to turn your colleagues and clients off and leave a poor impression of your business relationships.

1. Doing the same thing every year – year on year: Don’t let your corporate entertainment become boring and predictable. Do something different this year that that your clients will love and that will leave a lasting impression.

2. Eat, drink, go home: Last year did you spent a fortune on a corporate function. OK, sure it was great party, but we bet it felt like such a missed opportunity afterwards? Bet most of the clients who came, havent been in touch since unless you called them? Don’t you want an event that makes  your clients feel more committed to you and that helps you bring in more business?

3. Budget Fun Days: Tight budgets mean that sometimes your pretty restricted with what you can do. The chocolate making, raft building and jousting on horseback days have been disappointing and have done nothing for our client relationships. Want an event with a wow factor that wont just burn a hole in your budget?

4. Doing what everybody else does: Have your clients experienced so much hospitality from their suppliers that days out at Twickenham, Lords, Wimbledon and Henley are now just old hat?  You need to do something that will make you stand out from the crowd.

5. Spectating: When you just watching the cricket or rugby, there’s no real opportunity to really talk, to strengthen your business relationships. You need a more involving event, that will bond you together and help build on your partnerships.

Real Client Entertainment

Team Voyage offer quality events that specialise in team sailing. Working with companies accross a very broard range of sectors. If you are looking for a dynamic and memorable way to entertain clients at sea contact us.

We are committed to delivering unforgettable events that you and your clients will benefit from talking about in weeks to come.

To find out more, call 0870 609 2038 or email: Team Voyage 

Invite your clients and colleagues to Cowes Week and take part in the only sport where you can compete alongside Olympic Champions and World Record Holders.

The right kind of corporate event can help you develop key accounts and win new clients. Sharing an experience, especially in competition against other teams, is one of the most effective ways to build enduring relationships.

Contact us and we will help you:

• Build stronger, lasting relationships with your clients.

• Cement your business partnerships by working together as a real team.

• Build a corporate Wow factor – race in the world’s most famous regatta.

• Suitable for all levels of sailing experience.

The Event

• 1 day racing for up to 10 guests

• Departure from Port Hamble, near Southampton

• Breakfast reception on-board. Set-sail, race preparation. Race entry

• Lunch on-board

• Entry to the famous Cowes post-race drinks parties (additional cost for tickets)

• Dinner in Cowes (additional cost)

What is included

• Race-prepared racing yacht with a full set of racing sails

• Skipper and first mate both experienced sailors and competitors in regattas

• Breakfast reception and lunch on-board

• Website dedicated to your voyage, used to communicate with delegates before they embark and to display photos from the event on return

• Hospitality representative to meet you in Cowes

To find out more about racing at Cowes, call 0870 609 2038 or email: Team Voyage