Innovative Team-Building Activities for a Yacht Charter Retreat

Team-building activities are a tried-and-tested way to improve collaboration among employees or team members and strengthen bonds. One of the most significant advantages of setting up these activities on board a luxury yacht charter is that the experience of being on board is great for bonding in itself. Participants are unlikely to have spent much time cruising on luxury vessels, and they will be excited and thrilled, making them more likely to want to participate and work together as a team.  

The team at Simpson Yacht Charter has brainstormed some exciting team-building activities for a yacht charter retreat, and we’ve given each a rating according to its complexity and the required level of setting-up. Each activity requires a certain degree of time and effort to set up. Some are complex and challenging but may be very rewarding as team-building exercises. Others are simpler but equally effective, and all can be customised to suit specific goals. 

Each activity manager must determine what is achievable with the resources available, the number of participants, and the available space and utilities on board their chosen charter vessel. Let’s get started! 

THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT

Everybody loves a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt. Solving clues and racing to the correct location encourages group problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication. Depending on the complexity of the clues, this can be a relatively straightforward task to set up. The hunt can be themed for an additional layer of fun if required, but this will only add a sense of cohesion and intrigue and can be abandoned if time and resources are scarce. 

Setup challenges: 

• The most time-consuming aspect of this activity is creating challenging but not impossible clues.  

Materials required:

• Clue cards for each team
• Small items to hide around the yacht

Overall complexity rating: 

• 5/10

GALLEY COOK-OFF CHALLENGE

If you have small enough teams or a considerable galley, an excellent team-building challenge is to have an expert demonstrate a recipe or difficult culinary skill. Alternatively, a recipe can be distributed to eliminate the need for an instructor. Although this removes the element of following verbal and demonstrated instructions, it introduces written instructions. 

Teams compete to replicate what they’ve seen, and an adjudicator can determine the winners. If space and cooking resources are limited, one team can go first while the other watches and then switch positions. This challenge requires teamwork and collaboration to achieve the desired results and will also tend to bring out leadership qualities in some members. 

Setup challenges:

• The most challenging aspect of this activity is finding an appropriate instructor (or materials) and the requisite ingredients to complete the challenge. 

Materials required:

• Whatever cooking ingredients the recipe or instructor specifies. 
• Additional cooking implements if the galley only has one set and the teams will compete simultaneously.

Overall complexity rating:

• 6/10 with an instructor
• 4/10 with a recipe book

WATERSPORTS RACES/CHALLENGES

If your chosen yacht has watersports equipment like paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis, and snorkels, you can organise relay races and other competitions to promote physical activity and teamwork. Maybe one team member is designated the leader and given the mask and snorkel. They are tasked with guiding the others to a designated spot to gain points, and then the mask must be exchanged with another member (while still in the water), and they seek the next location. This fosters a ‘no-one left behind’ mentality, as all must be present before the points are awarded. 

Setup challenges:

• Finding underwater points that are recognisable from the surface will only be possible in shallow water, and even then, may be difficult.

Materials required:

• Masks and snorkels
• Watersports equipment
• Ample towels and changes of clothing

Overall complexity rating:

• 2/10 for a watersports relay 
• 6/10 for a team-guide challenge 

NAVIGATION EXERCISES

As your luxury retreat is based on a splendid yacht, why not use the vessel as more than just a base for the activities? In this challenge, it becomes a critical component of the challenge! If your captain is amenable, distributing maps and compasses should be relatively straightforward, then charge each team to direct the captain to a pre-determined location as quickly and directly as possible. 

This activity requires careful collaboration between team members, as the temptation will be to talk over each other and attempt to take control. Clear, concise communication with the crew and captain will be critical and hone those cornerstone skills. Once the destination is reached, there may be additional fun challenges you can plan ahead of time. Some suggestions include:

• One member from each team must jump overboard and be the first to circumnavigate the yacht and get back on board.
• Marine wildlife spotting. Depending on your location, you can ask the crew what types of wildlife you might expect to encounter and give points for each verified sighting. 

Setup challenges:

• This activity relies heavily on the captain and crew being prepared to play along. Their advice will be critical regarding the target locations, addressing safety issues, and physically manoeuvring the yacht.

Materials needed:

• Compass
• Map

Overall complexity rating:

• 5/10 

ESCAPE THE YACHT

To reach the pool or watersports equipment where they can relax and have fun and a refreshing beverage, teams must solve a series of puzzles similar to those found in escape rooms. Depending on the level of complexity and materials the activities manager wishes to include, the puzzles can be paper-based ones sourced online. 

Setup challenges:

• Sourcing puzzle materials

Materials required:

• Pens/pencils and notepads
• Puzzle materials

Overall complexity rating:

• 2/10 with internet-sourced puzzles
• 6/10 if adding complexity and physical puzzles

ADDITIONAL IDEAS

Some other concepts you might like to research and try include:

• Murder mystery parties
• Creative workshops
• Outdoor, off-yacht adventures
• Storytelling 
• Problem-solving challenges

FINAL THOUGHTS ON TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES ON A YACHT CHARTER RETREAT

While these are all interesting, innovative suggestions to get people working together towards common goals, there are a few truths to bear in mind, namely:

The great joy of spending time on board a luxury vessel is revelling in its features and amenities and feeling ‘special’. While pre-arranged activities can certainly be fun and productive, there is something to be said for the bonding experience of letting people soak up the atmosphere and relax without feeling pressured to engage in activities they may have little interest in. 

Thrilling, ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ events like spending time on a luxury yacht charter will give people a sense of togetherness and encourage them to intermingle and converse. This is, perhaps, as good an outcome to aim for as any that puzzles, games, and challenges can provide. The goodwill garnered through a surprise option for a massage, reiki session, or cleansing mud pack might outstrip a scavenger hunt by some distance. As with most things in life, there is a ‘sweet spot’ between compulsory activities and solo time. It is the job of each activities manager to find it. 

CONTACT US

If you’re interested in exploring hosting your next company team-building activity onboard a luxury yacht or want to learn more about what we do at Simpson Yacht Charter, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Our experienced and knowledgeable representatives have the answers and any information or guidance you need to plan an exceptional event.