I just spent the previous 2 days on an experimental Outward Bound Professional trip sailing on The Brilliant. She is a 1932 auxiliary schooner run by the Mystic Seaport Museum. OBP is considering a joint venture with MSM to give corporate executives a team building experience at sea. Myself and 4 other executives, along with 2 OBP staff and the captain and mate left Thursday morning for a 36 hour sail in the Long Island Sound.
Thursday, after some basic instruction, we set out into the Sound. By noon we were in a light rain with about 5 - 8 mph winds. This made for a slightly wet, but enjoyable cruise across the sound and into Peconic Bay. We anchored for the night in a cove on the back side of Shelter Island. When we woke up, the wind was coming hard out of the East -- unfortunately, the direction we needed to go -- and the skies looked ominous. Captain said he expected 15 - 20 mph winds all day, so we replaced the #2 genoa with the #3 jenny, a much smaller sail. We got under way about 9:30am and had to tack the entire way back. At first, in the narrow channel coming out of Gardiner's Bay, we had to fast tack which took quite a bit of effort from our newly formed crew and in a few turns, we were functioning like a well oiled race crew! Unfortunately, the rain began at 10:30 and by 11am, its was an outright downpour. The wind was coming at us at 20 mph with gusts over 30, the seas were between 3 - 6 feet and we had the rails in the water on a close reach hard against the wind, so the boat was not comfortable at all. Being that I am prone to seasickness, I had to stay on deck all day and was soaked to the bone by 2pm. I was also nauseous all day, and by 2:30pm could no longer take it, so with head over the side, I returned all of breakfast and some of last night's dinner to the sea. I was flat on the deck for an hour, but then after drinking some warm water to re-hydrate my system, rallied to return to the crew for the final two hours back to port.
We returned to the dock at 6pm on Friday, soaked, exhausted, but thrilled by our accomplishment. We survived, and grew together as a team during our 36 hour adventure. We cared for each other when we were sick, contributed to our cause as much as we could and learned to be humble in the face of the wind, weather and sea. Nothing helps people bond and gel as a team more than physical adversity. When faced with extreme physical challenges, character gets tested and relationships move beyond the superfical and become deeper and more meaningful.
I believe the OBP staff evaluated the trip as a success and will therefore move forward with the joint venture with the MSM. Look for Leadership and Team Building Sailing opportunities from Outward Bound Professional soon!
Thursday, after some basic instruction, we set out into the Sound. By noon we were in a light rain with about 5 - 8 mph winds. This made for a slightly wet, but enjoyable cruise across the sound and into Peconic Bay. We anchored for the night in a cove on the back side of Shelter Island. When we woke up, the wind was coming hard out of the East -- unfortunately, the direction we needed to go -- and the skies looked ominous. Captain said he expected 15 - 20 mph winds all day, so we replaced the #2 genoa with the #3 jenny, a much smaller sail. We got under way about 9:30am and had to tack the entire way back. At first, in the narrow channel coming out of Gardiner's Bay, we had to fast tack which took quite a bit of effort from our newly formed crew and in a few turns, we were functioning like a well oiled race crew! Unfortunately, the rain began at 10:30 and by 11am, its was an outright downpour. The wind was coming at us at 20 mph with gusts over 30, the seas were between 3 - 6 feet and we had the rails in the water on a close reach hard against the wind, so the boat was not comfortable at all. Being that I am prone to seasickness, I had to stay on deck all day and was soaked to the bone by 2pm. I was also nauseous all day, and by 2:30pm could no longer take it, so with head over the side, I returned all of breakfast and some of last night's dinner to the sea. I was flat on the deck for an hour, but then after drinking some warm water to re-hydrate my system, rallied to return to the crew for the final two hours back to port. 
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