Into the Storm: Teamwork Lessons from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Our newest book, to be published in late 2012, recounts the story of the courageous crew of AFR Midnight Rambler, winners of the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Their stunning victory, and the teamwork that made it possible, hold valuable lessons for success in today’s demanding business environment.
Organizations are always faced with ambiguity and uncertainty, but the current level of turbulence is unprecedented in recent memory. By studying leaders and teams facing extreme challenges, the authors have identified a set of core strategies that are critical to success at The Edge.
It’s hard to imagine a better place to test these strategies than the iconic Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This 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 the 1998 race proved to be the most perilous in the race’s sixty-five-year history.
As the fleet of 115 boats sailed down the coast of Australia, they were hit by an unexpected weather bomb—a massive storm that created eighty-foot waves and near hundred-mile-an-hour winds. Six sailors perished in the maelstrom, and another fifty-five were saved in what became the largest search and rescue operation in Australia’s history.
While many boats tried to maneuver around the storm, the crew of AFR Midnight Rambler chose to head directly into its path. After battling mountainous waves and hurricane-force winds, they arrived safely in Hobart, three days and sixteen hours later.
The decision to head into the eye of the storm, along with extraordinary tenacity, optimism, courage, and teamwork, enabled this team of “amateurs” to beat professionals sailing much larger and better-financed boats. Ed Psaltis and his crew of six were proclaimed overall winners and awarded the coveted Tattersalls Cup. They were the smallest boat in ten years to win the race.
What were the factors underlying this stunning victory? How has the team sustained its remarkable pattern of winning over the course of more than ten years? This inspiring book answers these questions, and provides concrete strategies for building exceptional teams in extraordinary times.
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