Team work and leadership on a thirty foot yacht sailing out of Kinsale harbour. Five adrenaline hits.
Kinsale on the south coast of Ireland is generally classified as the gourmet capital of Ireland. There are more top class restaurants per block than you could shake a stick at. While the restaurant, hotel and tourist industry in Kinsale is vibrant, the town itself has some beautiful quaint shops and winding streets. Of course we often overlook the fact that Kinsale is a stone’s throw from the ocean. The town itself is built on the river Bandon. The river flows past the town and swings right and passes between Charles fort and James fort. Kinsale was a marine fortress used by the English navy from the year 1601.
Getting to Kinsale is easy for your team. A bus service runs regularly from Cork city a mere thirty minute away. Off the quay wall on the left as you pass through Kinsale town is the yacht marina.
The first Adrenaline hit :
The first Adrenaline hit will come as your team makes its way down the causeway and onto the marina. Your chariot awaits, all thirty odd feet of this modern sailing boat. While your team will be instructed will be expected to take full part in crewing the craft on tasks. This is while they learn about safety features, dangers and nautical terminology.
When the Instructions to the team are over, the skipper will cast off the shore lines and motor away from the marina. The prevailing wind is south westerly so in order to hoist the main sail and the bow of the boat is set into the wind. Therefore minimising the pressure on the sail. Team members will be asked to use the winches in order to get the sail up tight. And, another team member will be shown how to secure to rope in a jam cleat. The boat is steered off when the sail is secured.
The second adrenaline rush :
The second adrenaline rush will kick in at this point as the boat leans over and moves forward at the same time.
The headsail is then unfurled and tightened by hauling it in on a winch in the cockpit. The pressure on the ropes from the strength of the wind will be considerable. It will take two team members or crew members to complete that task. As the wind is coming from the south west and as the boat is heading in a southerly direction out the harbour the boat picks up speed.
The third adrenaline rush :
The third adrenaline rush is just a moment away. A gust of wind known as a squall hits the boat and she puts her lower deck down into the tide. Ropes are slackened slightly to counter balance while at the same time the boat picks up more speed. The thrills are more frequent as the boat reacts to the weather and tosses spray back along the deck and the team.
The fourth Adrenaline rush :
The fourth Adrenaline rush hits the button as the boat reaches the mouth of the harbour by the bullman buoy and encounters the Atlantic waves. Not only has she her ear down in the surf but she is plugging into some serious waves and weather. Thrilling stuff but not for the feint hearted.
The fifth Adrenaline rush :
The fifth Adrenaline rush comes as the skipper turns the boat and heads back in shore. It requires all ropes to be slackened and allow the sail to be set on the opposite side adding to an exhilarating team day out.
So organise a sailing trip like this for your team! All of that adrenaline will get the blood pumping and clear out the cobwebs. This activity is perfect for the team that is mostly based in an office.
