Management teambuilding on a Volvo Ocean Race Yacht
from the Netherlands to the UK - 3 days
Day 1 – The crossing: Leadership in real-world conditions Scheveningen → Harwich (overnight at sea)
Morning – Start & positioning
- Introduction to the training and learning objectives
- Safety briefing & introduction to the Oceanracer
- Allocation of roles on board (skipper, navigator, trimmers, watch leaders)
- Expectations: responsibility, ownership, teamwork
Management theme: How do you take the lead when the context is unfamiliar and dynamic?
Afternoon & evening – Offshore sailing
- Start of the crossing to England
- Watch systems and rotation of leadership roles
- Navigation and course decisions
- Communication under time pressure
- Dealing with fatigue, sea sickness and uncertainty
Hans observes behaviour and interventions:
- Who takes the initiative?
- Who maintains an overview?
- How are decisions supported?
Learning experience
Leadership becomes apparent without hierarchy or title.
Day 2 – Arrival, reflection and in-depth discussion Harwich → Pin Mill | Evaluation & debrief
Morning – Arrival in England
Arrival at Harwich
Mooring and initial informal reflection
Sailing on to Pin Mill
Afternoon – Evaluation & debrief (Butt & Oyster, Pin Mill)
In-depth reflection session led by Hans Bouscholte
Topics:
- Leadership under pressure: what worked, what didn’t?
- Team dynamics and trust
- Communication: clarity vs. noise
- Decision-making with incomplete information
- Personal patterns and pitfalls
Applying this to practice
- What does this say about your role as a manager?
- What do you recognise from your organisation?
- What do you need to do differently when things get really tense?
Late afternoon – Preparing for the return journey
New division of roles
Refining team agreements
Clear objectives for the return journey
Evening – Departure for the Netherlands
Start of the return journey to Scheveningen
Night sailing: trust, handover, consistent leadership
Day 3 – Return journey & mooring
Pin Mill → Scheveningen (arrival in the evening)
Daytime – High-performance teamwork
- Applying insights from Day 2
- Leadership with greater calm and clarity
- Collaborating more effectively whilst tired
- Continuous improvement during the trip
Hans directs less, observes more:
- Are lessons actually being applied?
- Is there a visible change in behaviour?
Evening – Arrival in Scheveningen
Mooring
Short final debrief on board
Outcome of the 3-day training
Participants leave with:
- Deep self-insight as a leader
- Experienced impact of trust and collaboration
- Tangible behavioural improvements under pressure
- A shared, intense experience that creates lasting bonds between teams
Outcome: sustainable behavioural change and a strong sense of team spirit
