Posted by Jay Palace on Sun, Oct 02, 2011 @ 01:22 PM
Recently I have been working on a series of sailing team building events in partnership with LivingSocial Adventures. These events utilize GEL’s BoatWorks format which has been customized into a half-day experience for members of the Living Social community, people with a passion for doing fun things with fun people.
On September 17th and 18th, 80 LivingSocial Adventurers joined GEL at J World Annapolis in the first of these exciting programs.
Primarily first-time sailors, the four person teams had a fantastic time both on land and out on the water where they were introduced to sailing. With their coaches providing guidance and advice, our rookie sailors quickly learned the ropes and then attached the BoatWorks Group Challenge as a fleet. The challenge requires each team of four to communicate and collaborate with the other boat-teams as they race the clock through a nautical obstacle course. The gang was a competitive lot, and they knocked it out of the park, putting together, after some fits and starts, some of the top runs we've seen this season.
While we didn't debrief as we would for an intact or newly formed corporate team, lots of folks commented on how much they learned about team work and communication.
You can check out photos from all four sessions on the GEL Facebook Page. In addition a slideshow featuring some of the best photos from the Sunday event has been put together by LivingSocial's professional photographer Michael Procknal.
Another weekend of LivingSocial BoatWorks Adventures will be coming up on October 22 and 23 and there are a few spots reserved for "friends of GEL" who've been wanting to check out the program. Visit the event page, and do give me a shout via phone or email if you'd like to join in the fun.
Posted by Jay Palace on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 @ 01:06 PM
If you caught the sailing bug when you went sailing with me or another member of the GEL sailing team, there are some great opportunities to get out sailing this weekend. It's the Eleventh Annual Summer Sailstice, a celebration of sailing coming up this weekend, June 18/19.
I'll join the organizers in inviting you to sail, race, or cruise and join sailors worldwide during the longest sailing weekend days of the year. Launched in 2001, Summer Sailstice was created as a holiday uniting sailors in a global sailing festival.
To participate, simply sign up at http://www.summersailstice.com and then go sailing on the weekend of June 18/19. The website allows you to post your sailing plans, create and promote a sailing event, invite others or see what other sailors are doing in your area. Host a race, arrange a cruise or just go sailing for the Sailstice holiday to connect sailors across the seven seas.
By signing up, you're also eligible to win prizes donated by Footloose Sailing Yachts, Hunter Marine, West Marine, Hobie, Offshore Sailing, Woodenboat and many of your favorite marine businesses. Prizes include a one-week BVI charter with the Footloose Sailing Charters, a Hobie kayak and over 400 other prizes. Sign up early and plan to get together with friends and family to celebrate life under sail on June 18/19.
We're supporting Sailors for the Sea, an environmental organization enlisting sailors to support healthy oceans. When you sign up, you can 'check the box' to help save the seas as you sail by contributing funds for every mile sailed.
Sail Locally, Celebrate Globally and join the whole world sailing!