The Sharp End

The Sharp End

For two climbers sharing a rope, the lead climber is metaphorically on the "sharp end." The leader could fall back to the last piece of protection and then that distance again below it until the second climber's belay catches him. In contrast, the second climber falls only enough to tension the rope going up to the leader's belay above. Time spent at the sharp end of the rope is how one becomes a better climber.

I was never much of a rock climber, skiing always came easier, but the metaphor stuck. Environments where the the risks and consequences are elemental, the sharp end, are both a tough place to reside and a rich learning environment. Too much risk is foolish and too intense to learn from and too little risk breeds false confidence. The right amount of risk and discomfort focuses the mind and produces wisdom that stems from experience not just theory.

A few days ago, we sailed through the largest seas we have ever experienced. Breaking waves chased us and hours of 40-50 knot winds made for exhilarating sailing. We were on the sharp end. In the moment, there was no time to reflect. We simply focused on taking care of the boat, hoping that in return she would take care of us.

Like most outdoor pursuits, sailing is not rocket science. There are centuries of wisdom and plenty of solid technology to assist the modern sailor. What does not come cheap or easy is the ability to make good decisions in the midst of adversity. At the sharp end, decisions are made in an environment of uncertainty, with incomplete information, and often under time pressure. The decisions have real consequences and so the lessons learned and the acquired confidence are very real.

After fifteen years of running a school that frequently pushed young adults out of their comfort zones, it is invigorating and humbling for Molly and me to be back at the sharp end– being challenged to improve our skills as sailors, decision makers and leaders. - Christopher