Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race - Hardcover

Perkins, Dennis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814431984 ISBN 13: 9780814431986

Publisher: AMACOM, 2012

Synopsis

Illustrated with examples from the story and compelling case studies, this engaging book provides the resources and tools to support teams on their sometimes-tumultuous journey to success.

In the face of turmoil and tragedy, a crew of “amateur” sailors piloted their tiny vessel--the AFR Midnight Rambler--through a treacherous storm to achieve victory in a world-renowned sailing competition. Their triumph--perhaps even their survival--owes itself to their astonishing commitment to teamwork: an alchemy of cooperation, trust, planning, and execution.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is among the most demanding sailing competitions in the world. Unpredictable seas make the approximately-630-nautical-mile course grueling under the best conditions, but the 1998 race proved to be the most perilous to date when a sudden and violent storm struck. Six sailors perished and another 55 were saved in what became the largest search and rescue operation in Australia's history. But even while bigger, better-equipped yachts attempted to maneuver around the storm, Ed Psaltis and his crew on the AFR Midnight Rambler made the daring decision to head directly into its path.

Author Dennis N.T. Perkins chronicles their nearly four-day ordeal and draws parallels to the world of business, revealing how teams:

• can work together to overcome obstacles,
• Use teamwork to achieve goals and beat challenges,
• And succeed during difficult times.

Into the Storm will help your team achieve extraordinary feats--together.

About this title

About the Author

DENNIS PERKINS is the author of Leading at The Edge and CEO of Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and teams thrive under conditions of adversity, uncertainty, and change. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he successfully completed his first Sydney Hobart Race in 2006. JILLIAN B. MURPHY is the Director of Client Services at Syncretics.

From the Back Cover

The iconic Sydney to Hobart Race, a 723-mile deepwater challenge—often called the “Everest” of offshore ocean racing—is considered one of the toughest in the world. Unpredictable weather and seas make each race demanding, but in 1998, an unexpected “weather bomb” hit the fleet, creating 80-foot waves and 100-mile-per-hour winds.

Many bigger, better-equipped boats tried to maneuver around the storm, but the crew of the AFR Midnight Rambler chose to head directly into its path. After battling mountainous waves and hurricane-force winds in the Bass Strait, the tiny 35-foot boat arrived safely in Hobart, 3 days and 16 hours later—winning the coveted Tattersall’s Cup.

What were the factors underlying this incredible achievement? Into the Storm recounts the story of the Ramblers’ stunning victory, and the teamwork that made it possible—revealing powerful lessons for success in today’s demanding business environment. Illustrated with examples from the story and compelling case studies, this riveting adventure story provides effective methods you can use to:

Cut through the noise of the wind and waves. Inventive methods of communication enabled the Ramblers to stay cohesive in spite of deafening wind and waves. What can your team do when flooded by e-mails, voice mails, conflicting demands, and other distractions?

Remove all excuses for failure. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the Rambler crew was their focus on careful preparation. The crew spent hours practicing maneuvers so they could do them in the toughest conditions—in rough seas, and at night. Winning teams devote extensive time and energy to preparation, leaving nothing to chance.

Deal with the things that slow you down. Conflict is a natural occurrence in any group, but it can be productive when managed appropriately. The Ramblers’ tale of survival reveals techniques for dealing with the stress and tension that impair team performance.

The Ramblers’ success resulted from an extraordinary blend of collaboration, trust, planning, and execution. Into the Storm equips you with the tools to overcome daunting odds and win your team trophy.

From the Inside Flap

Hurricane-force winds howled, reaching speeds of over 100 miles an hour. Waves as tall as 8-story buildings dwarfed the 35-foot sailboat, AFR Midnight Rambler. Rain and spray pelted the sailors' faces like gravel, and the screaming of the wind made communication nearly impossible.

The boat would fly off the back of an enormous wave, and the Rambler would be suspended in midair--then drop 30 feet or more. The impact, when it came, was like crashing into cement. Then the boat would be knocked down the face of a mountainous wave, and the crew would struggle to stay alive and avoid a fatal capsize.

No one said it aloud, but they all knew that they could die in the storm. Yet in spite of their paralyzing fear, the crew held together--and they supported each other with remarkable teamwork.

Competing in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race --one of the most dangerous offshore ocean races in history--skipper Ed Psaltis and his amateur crew did more than survive the deadly storm. The AFR Midnight Rambler went on to become the overall winner of the race--the smallest boat in 10 years to win the prestigious Tattersall's Cup.

How did they do it? What enabled the Midnight Rambler team to prevail against all odds? And what can your team learn from their experience?

Recounting a heart-stopping tale of incredible teamwork, Into the Storm reveals 10 critical strategies for Teamwork at The Edge--as applicable in the workplace as on the high seas--including:

Be willing to sail into the storm. The crew of the Rambler had a fundamental decision to make: Turn around and run for shelter, or head directly into the path of the storm. To be suc-cess-ful, teams must be open to taking bold action--even though the best strategy may appear risky.

Find ways to share the helm. The crew organiz-ed a "wave spotter" system to block the spray and look ahead for approaching waves. Team members need to find places where they can add value--and take the initiative to share the load.

Master the art of rapid recovery. Teams that press the upper limits of performance will inevitably have "knockdowns" and "broaches." The crew of AFR Midnight Rambler showed an extraordinary ability to shift from survival to racing mode. To be successful, all teams need to develop the capacity to recover from setbacks quickly.

A gripping tale of triumph over adversity, Into the Storm reveals how any group, working together, can achieve the seemingly impossible.

DENNIS N. T. PERKINS is the author of Leading at The Edge and CEO of The Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and teams thrive under conditions of adversity, uncertainty, and change. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he successfully completed the Sydney to Hobart Race in 2006. He lives in Madison, CT.

JILLIAN B. MURPHY is Director of Client Services at The Syncretics Group. She works in the areas of leadership, executive coaching, and team effectiveness.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The AFR Midnight Rambler

The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race proved to be the most perilous in the event’s sixty-five-year history. As the fleet sailed down the coast of Australia, boats were hit by an unexpected weather bomb—a massive storm that created 80-foot waves and 92-knot (105-mile-an-hour) winds. While many crews tried to maneuver around the storm, the 35-foot AFR Midnight Rambler chose to head directly into its path. After battling mountainous waves and hurricane force winds in the Bass Strait, the tiny boat arrived safely in Hobart, three days and sixteen hours later.

Their decision to head into the eye of the storm—along with extraordinary tenacity, optimism, courage, and teamwork—enabled this crew of amateur sailors to beat professionals on much larger and better financed boats. The skipper, Ed Psaltis, and his crew of six were proclaimed the Overall Winners and awarded the coveted Tattersall’s Cup. They were the smallest boat in ten years to win the race.

A number of books have been written about the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race, but most focused on the tragedy and loss of life. The spotlight was on death and destruction. When I looked further, however, I found that the story of the AFR Midnight Rambler had been almost completely overlooked.

I immersed myself in the saga of the Midnight Rambler and the Sydney to Hobart Race. I contacted Ed Psaltis, and the more I heard about his philosophy— and the way the crew worked together—the more engaged I became. It was clear to me that the success of the AFR Midnight Rambler was not a fluke or mere luck. It was the result of a consistent set of exemplary practices that embody the concept of Teamwork at The Edge.

In the years following my initial contact with Ed, I spent considerable time studying the AFR Midnight Rambler crew and the Sydney to Hobart Race. I made numerous trips to Australia and conducted extensive interviews with members of the crew. I also spoke with other accomplished sailors who had won the famed race. Finally, with some trepidation, I sailed the race myself so that I would understand as much as I possibly could about the Everest of ocean racing.

To be clear, the story of the Midnight Rambler is not the only story that can be told about teamwork in the Sydney to Hobart Race. The lessons in this book incorporate insights from conversations with many extraordinary sailors. Roger Hickman, skipper of Wild Rose, is one of Australia’s most experienced offshore ocean racers. “Hicko,” who won the 1993 race and many other trophies, was exceptionally generous with his observations about effective teamwork.

Adrienne Cahalan—navigator of Wild Oats—holds five world speed sailing records and is a veteran of nineteen Sydney to Hobart Races. Adrienne shared her insights from years at sea on a diverse array of boats and crews. Neville Crichton, owner and skipper of the “super maxi” Alfa Romeo, also took time from his busy schedule to speak with me. And, though most of my conversations took place with Australian sailors, I was able to get some “Yankee insights” from the crew of Rosebud—including Jim Slaughter and Malcolm Park. Rosebud was the first American winner of the Sydney to Hobart Race in thirty years.

Each of these sailors contributed important ideas about teamwork that are incorporated into this book. As is the case of Leading at The Edge, however, I felt that the best way to talk about the strategies was to focus on one story. In my previous book, that story was the saga of Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance. In this book, I chose the story of the AFR Midnight Rambler.

There are a number of reasons why the metaphor of ocean racing can help teams facing today’s tough challenges. Let’s look at some of the core characteristics of the sport:

■ Ocean racing is a complex team endeavor.

■ It’s a test of endurance and tenacity involving a journey into the unknown.

■ Like today’s business environment, racing is characterized by constant change. The weather can be sunny one minute, with gale force winds the next.

■ Ocean racing is competitive, stressful, and anxiety-provoking.

■ While there is a skipper in charge of the boat, leadership can be distributed among other members of the crew.

■ A team that fails to execute flawlessly can lose a race. There are winners and losers in the sport.

■ Winning a sailing race requires clear vision, a cohesive and committed team, and the ability to learn and adapt.

The demands placed on a crew of ocean racers are strikingly similar to those faced by any team working to overcome tough challenges. And I believe that, by understanding the things that make ocean racers successful, we can draw useful insights for a broad range of team challenges.

Having a superb team doesn’t guarantee success, and every challenging adventure involves an element of chance. But I believe that the kind of teamwork exhibited by the best ocean racing teams changes the odds. Every race will still involve rolling the dice, but the dice can be weighted in favor of teams that strive to get everything right—crews that excel in

Teamwork at The Edge.

After sharing the story of the AFR Midnight Rambler and the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race, I’ll explore the strategies that I believe provide the foundation for their success, and for the success of other ocean racers. Then I’ll suggest ways that these Teamwork at The Edge strategies can be applied to your own challenges.

Edition details

• Publisher: AMACOM
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814431984
• ISBN 13: 9780814431986
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288