September 2, 2005 Source: British Columbia Institute of Technology:
http://www.bcit.ca/news/releases/newsrelease090205089.shtml BCIT Instructor Sails Cape Horn and Lives to Write the Book Burnaby, BC - BCIT is proud to announce a recent accomplishment by one of its instructors: the publication of "Haul Away! Teambuilding Lessons from a Voyage Around Cape Horn." The book is written by BCIT Marketing Instructor, Rob Duncan and covers the valuable lessons learned from signing on as a deckhand on the Europa, a tall ship that was bound for Cape Horn, the most dangerous waters on the planet. An amateur sailor at best, Mr. Duncan was overwhelmed at first by the more than 200 ropes that controlled the 24 sails on the century-old, 3-masted, 300-ton square-rigged sailing ship. By making plenty of mistakes, confronting his fears, and through patient and "impatient" coaching Rob became a better sailor. Along the way, the crew, a group of strangers at first, became a highly effective team over the course of the 75-day voyage. "I wrote the book after reflecting on how the crew went from a being a group of strangers to becoming a good team, and ultimately a band of great friends," said Duncan. "In the beginning, the only thing we had in common was the desire to round Cape Horn, which is considered the sailor's Everest. The Cape has a famous reputation for huge seas and terrible conditions, and is the graveyard of some 800 ships and 10,000 sailors." Some of the teambuilding lessons presented in the book include: seeing fear and indecision as normal and desirable; gravitating toward the right people on a team; setting a storm watch; and when comfort becomes counterproductive. The voyage was featured on CNN.com's "Sailing and surviving Cape Horn" and the accounts of the ship's progress and experiences can be accessed at http://CNN.com/2003/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/06/03/savvyt.tall.ship/ While there may be a lot of romance associated with this particular quest, as sailors who have rounded the Horn get to wear a gold earring in their left ear, there are probably fewer than 500 living people who have sailed around Cape Horn on a square-rigged tall ship. "Haul Away!" is available through Amazon and other retailers. Media may contact BCIT Media Relations 604. 432.8773
| 