⛵️ Sailboat Voyage
Set sail for success! On this sailboat-themed retro, let's catch favorable winds, avoid the rocks, and journey smoothly toward our goals. Chart your thoughts for an agile voyage ahead!
Template Columns
🌬️ Catch the Wind (Start)
Suggest new actions or ideas to help our sailboat catch the wind and move forward faster.
Base column: Start🪨 Avoid the Rocks (Stop)
Identify any actions or habits we should leave behind to prevent crashing on the rocks.
Base column: Stop🛶 Steady Currents (Continue)
Highlight what is already helping our journey so we can keep gliding smoothly.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Sailboat Voyage retrospective uses a nautical journey metaphor to help your team surface new ideas, avoid pitfalls, and reinforce what's working. It's an engaging, action-focused way to align everyone on the next sprint.
When to use this template
Use this template when your team needs a fresh perspective or to reenergize after a challenging sprint. It's especially effective when you want to highlight both opportunities for growth and the strengths you already have.
How to facilitate
Introduce the sailboat metaphor, explaining the meaning behind each column and setting a positive, forward-looking tone.
Provide a few quiet minutes for team members to add thoughts asynchronously to the three columns: Catch the Wind, Avoid the Rocks, and Steady Currents.
Invite team members to review and group similar ideas together, clarifying any items as needed.
Discuss entries column by column, starting with Catch the Wind, then Avoid the Rocks, and finally Steady Currents, allowing all voices to contribute.
Prioritize key actions, especially in the Catch the Wind and Avoid the Rocks areas, collectively agreeing on specific next steps.
Assign owners to action items and summarize takeaways to ensure accountability and follow-through.
Pro Tips
Explain the metaphor with visuals or examples to set a playful but purposeful mood.
Encourage honest discussion about 'rocks'—focus on safety for people to raise concerns.
Keep discussions balanced: don't let the group fixate on problems; celebrate smooth currents too.
Limit discussion time per column to prevent the session from dragging on.
FAQ
What if team members are unfamiliar with the sailboat metaphor?
Quickly explain each column's meaning at the start and relate it to your team's journey. Visual aids can help bridge any gap.
How should we handle a long list of 'rocks'?
Prioritize the most immediate or impactful obstacles, then tackle others in future retros to avoid overwhelm.
Can this format work for remote or hybrid teams?
Yes, it's well suited to remote facilitation, especially with collaborative tools for idea gathering and voting.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective