For centuries, sailing was the best way to get to new places. For Sea Trials it still is.
Sea Trials
One day corporate sailing with Yachtmaster and psychologist Tim Harkness
Where would you like your team to get to? Tell me what you’d like to work on, and let’s plan a day on the water.
Port Solent, Portsmouth · 4–8 participants · maximum 8
Approximately 09:30–17:00 · flexible
No sailing experience needed
A boat gives your team something real to work on
On a boat, teamwork gets very practical, very quickly. Someone is at the helm, someone is on lookout, and someone needs to know which line to manage.
In a real-world environment, what works and what is getting missed become apparent very quickly. This can uncover valuable lessons about working together back on land.
Brief. Sail. Reflect.
Before the sail
We start with a conversation about your team. What matters to you, and what would you like to do better together?
On the water
Then we go sailing. With guidance, you take on the jobs that keep the boat moving and put those ideas into practice.
Back ashore
We talk through what happened, including the things that surprised you, and decide what’s worth taking back to work.
Clear roles. Shared responsibility.
You’ll take turns helming the boat, navigating, being a steward and being a sail trimmer. Each person trains their replacement before handing over and moving to the next role.
The different roles and handovers enable you to experience leadership, mentoring, support and communication.
A day on the water, with lessons to take back to work.
What your team can work on
You’ll have a go at each job on the boat, then teach the next person before handing over. That means being clear about who is doing what, sharing what you know, and checking that your instructions make sense to someone else. Sometimes you’ll lead; sometimes you’ll support a colleague who is learning, and sometimes you will work as equal members of a team.
After the sail, there’s time to talk it through and agree two things your team wants to do differently at work. These might be clearer responsibilities, better handovers, or a different way of helping colleagues learn.
A follow-up conversation is available if you’d like to discuss how it’s going.
From a Sea Trials participant
“It was such a unique experience and really showed how important communication, trust, and teamwork are in a completely different environment. It’s one thing to talk about teamwork in the workplace, but being out on the water really puts it into perspective.”
Participant feedback · Sea Trials Solent, April 2026
Tim Harkness
Performance psychologist. RYA Yachtmaster.
Sea Trials brings together my experience as an RYA Yachtmaster and an elite performance psychologist.
I spent 14 years at Chelsea FC, have worked with teams in sport and business, and am the author of 10 Rules for Talking.
The day at a glance
Location: Port Solent Marina, Portsmouth
Your group: 4–8 members of your team; eight is the maximum
Timing: Approximately 09:30–17:00, with flexible start and finish times
Lunch: Arrange lunch on board or sail to a destination for lunch
Support: Tim Harkness and an experienced first mate
Format: Briefing, training sail and facilitated debrief
Before you come aboard
Do we need sailing experience?
No. The day is tailored to the group, including people who have never sailed before.
What about lunch?
Lunch on board can be arranged, or we can sail to a destination for lunch. We will agree the plan with you in advance.
What happens if the weather is poor?
Bookings are subject to appropriate weather conditions. Cancellations are rare, but safety comes first. We will discuss the options with you if conditions are unsuitable.
What does it cost?
Tell me your preferred date, group size and what you would like to work on, and I’ll put together a quotation.
Plan a day for your team
Tell me a little about your team, when you’d like to sail and what you’d like to get out of the day.