Motivation and Leadership Training Aboard Tall Ships

By Captain Bob Webb

The Mission Building character through adventure. To develop a love to learn that lasts a lifetime. People who maintain a love to learn are the ones who change the world. Exploring and discovery awakens our inner self, creating a desire to learn more about the world around us, setting in motion a vision. A vision is the source of all achievement.

The Need for Self-Discovery

Many teenagers only experience is with asphalt, walls, high tech entertainment and the struggle for power to control others. They develop a relationship with a manmade world that is based on materialism and greed. They learn nothing about being in harmony with the forces of nature.

 

The Clipper Schooner

The Baltimore Clipper (sharp-lined hull) class of ships are rated the most beautiful sailing vessels ever built. Their beauty is a source of inspiration, with the ability of stirring lifelong dreams into action.

 

Teen Responsibility

I told the teenagers they had to assume full responsibility, including getting the ship ready for sailing, which included supplies, and they must assume full responsibility for the ship at sea. I will not intervene with their decisions even if it is bad, they had to learn from their mistakes. I will only intervened if the decision is too risky, which turned out to be rare.

 

Motivating Teenagers - How Sailing Programs Change Attitudes

Ocean sailing is an educational opportunity where the curriculum is controlled by nature. The crew and ship must work in harmony with nature. When under way, there is the never-ending task of learning how the interaction of the vessel reacts with fluid dynamics and the atmosphere. The crew becomes comfortable with cause and effect, as well as persistence, endurance, patience, and courage; attitudes that are almost impossible to teach in a classroom.

 

The Power of Teams - Team Motivation

The Windjammer program teaches teamwork and the benefits of coaching versus orders. Not everyone can develop a high level of independence, but they can achieve powerful results in a team-motivated environment. The Microsoft Corporation was started by teenagers who pooled their knowledge to overcome impossible barriers.

 

Elements of Successful Tall Ships

Community tall ships are successful when organized right. Charleston, SC in 2006, tall ship Sprit of South Carolina was launched. 2011 it was put up for sail. The organizers promoted it as a neat idea with no clear purpose and no supporting organization. People soon become tired of supporting a neat idea.

 

A Tall Ship for Charleston?

First South Carolina tall ship organization, 1998 to 2001 - During the late '90s there was an ad hock committee with members experienced in the business of tall ships. They had a website titled Pride of South Carolina, their chosen name for the ship. Their first goal was to develop a long term supporting organization, which takes time. People with no tall ship experience wanted a tall ship NOW. They took control said they would address long term support when the ship was launched. Financial load of maintaining a ship prevents the development of long term support, as they now discovered. At this time the original promoters are long gone.

 

The Adventure at Charles Town Landing

This is a Charleston Tall ship where the promoters got it right. The museum was the supporting organization and the purpose was to show how early settlers arrived in South Carolina. The ship was designed to meet the theme of the organization.