Sailing in Rough Seas

2 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2008

See all articles by R. Edward Freeman

R. Edward Freeman

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business

Drew Freides

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jenny Mead

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

Although not set in a business environment, this case illustrates the basic principles and rights and outlines the stakeholders in a situation where ethically questionable behavior has occurred.

Excerpt

UVA-E-0255

SAILING IN ROUGH SEAS

In the summer of 1997, college senior John Dollar competed in a portion of a major yacht race, which circled the world. Dollar and five other men were the crew members on the Andria Gloria, one boat of the nine-boat fleet in the race. The race began in South Hampton, England, and the race plan called for the 65-foot sailboats competing to head south around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), through the Southern Ocean, around Australia and New Zealand, and around Cape Horn before heading to the East Coast of the United States and finally finishing up in England. The race had nine legs, with stops at eight different ports. Dollar was to sail in the two Southern Ocean legs, from Cape Town, South Africa to Freemantle, Australia and from Auckland, New Zealand to Sao Sebastiao, Brazil.

Dollar's second leg started in New Zealand, and the Andria Gloria navigated through some of the world's roughest seas. He and the crew sailed in what is called the “Roaring Forties” or below 40 degrees south latitude, before rounding the ominous Cape Horn. This was Dollar's first trip to the Southern Ocean, which lived up to its notorious reputation. For nine days, the wind blew at over 45 knots, producing waves as large as 40 feet high, with temperatures below 45 degrees. Most of the time, the boat was pelted by rain or snow. After sailing over 4,000 miles in the lead, the Andria Gloria approached Cape Horn. It was dead calm as she rounded what has been called “the roughest sailing place on earth.” To add to the apprehension, there was seaweed wrapped around the propeller shaft, dramatically slowing the yacht's speed.

The crew members discussed diving over the side and clearing the seaweed from the shaft, but no one was keen on going into the 40-degree water. Much to Dollar's surprise, one of the crew members suggested putting the engine in reverse for a moment to chop up the seaweed. The race rules stated that the engine must be engaged only in neutral and to recharge the boat's batteries. But while the rules clearly prohibited putting the engine in forward gear, there was no mention of reverse. Interpreting the lack of a reverse rule as permission to use it, the crew prepared to put the Andria Gloria in reverse. When Dollar suggested waking up the skipper and asking his permission, the crew members said not to bother him with such a petty issue and insisted that they would handle it themselves. Dollar was upset because he remembered the skipper's explicit directions that if the seal on the propeller shaft was broken, the race officials must be notified. But he kept quiet while the crew started the engine, removed the seal, engaged the propeller to chop the weed, and replaced the shaft seal.

. . .

Keywords: ethical issues

Suggested Citation

Freeman, R. Edward and Freides, Drew and Mead, Jenny, Sailing in Rough Seas. Darden Case No. UVA-E-0255, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=908759 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.908759

R. Edward Freeman (Contact Author)

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business ( email )

P.O. Box 6550
Charlottesville, VA 22906-6550
United States
804-924-0935 (Phone)
804-924-6378 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty/freeman.htm

Drew Freides

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Jenny Mead

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business ( email )

P.O. Box 6550
Charlottesville, VA 22906-6550
United States

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