As I am writing, many of the Sparrow’s crew are making their way back to Jarna, where everything started for Oasis Armada, to participate in Initiative Forum 2013. This re-union and return to our project’s birth-place comes at an interesting time for all of the crew, as well as the project itself, not least because we are now nearing spring-time and the boating season once again.
In this article I want to share some reflections on what we experienced, as well as give an idea of where the project and the initial crew might be headed in the future. I had initially wanted to write a clear and concise evaluation of the project; what worked and what didn’t, etc., but the more I have reflected, the more I realize that it’s not quite that simple. However, some aspects of the evaluation process and responses from the project survey will be mentioned here. And just in case it’s not already clear, we are all still processing our experiences, so this is not intended to be in any way an objective or factual article, just a way to keep all those who have followed our progress informed a little about how things are going.
By the time we arrived in Rostock early October last year, it was clear that we all needed a good break from the project, and probably from each other as well. So we went away in our different directions to work, study and travel, allowing ourselves time and space to start reflecting on our short but very intense few months working with Oasis Armada. As the winter drew in, murmurings started to make their way through the grapevine that most of the original crew wanted to follow other paths this coming year, rather than continue with the project. We were very clear from the beginning that we wanted the project to be very organic and that people should come and go when they wanted, rather than commit to the project for a certain period of time, so it was no great surprise that people were moving on to other things. We felt that for the project to be healthy, people needed to really want to be involved, rather than do so out of obligation, as this often leads to resentment in the long run.
Another thing that became very clear, even before we reached Rostock, was that most, if not all of our expectations and goals needed to be revised, both personally and in regards to the project. As we were a very raw and inexperienced group to begin with, almost every day we had been learning new things about ourselves, the boat, life on the water, and the practicalities of running a project and managing all of these factors together. Generally, I think it is safe to say that we over-estimated what we could achieve in relation to every aspect that has been mentioned. The closest we got to achieving one of our project goals was in our efforts to live for free (or from donations, bin-diving and nature). In regards to our food and lodging, we can definitely give ourselves a pass mark, however, as we suspected, keeping the boat going without money was not possible, even with all the amazing luck and generosity we received along the way. So, in order to help us develop our understanding of what needed to change, I created a simple evaluation questionnaire for both crew and project followers/supporters.
The main things which stood out from peoples reflections, both crew and supporters, was that on a personal level we had far surpassed expectations, however, on a project level, we had fallen well short. As individuals, we had learned a huge amount in a very short period of time, overcame many fears and challenging situations, learned from our mistakes, and shown a great deal of passion and creativity in making the project succeed to the level that it did. When we looking at the project’s goals though in terms of our effect on the wider community and environment, it is no secret that our actions didn’t match up, for many reasons. Our lack of finances, lack of experience and on the water preparation, late departure date, lack of clear roles, and lack of a qualified captain/leader/project manager all counted against us in some ways. In terms of successes as a project, we were very happy to be able to support Ognareskogan while on Gotland Island, to show how much food is wasted by our bin-diving efforts, and to cover such a significant distance, and overcome many unforeseen obstacles, while maintaining our strong friendships and levels of communication. Generally though, we were aware (to some extent, anyway) of the challenges when we started, but were counting on our creative solutions, the generosity of strangers, and a huge dose of luck, all of which we used to their utmost during the trip. As already mentioned, it is clear that we relied too heavily on creativity and luck, and too little on preparation and knowledge. However, I can say with a great deal of certainty that there is not an ounce of regret among the team about the decision to go for it, even though we knew the odds were severely against us from the start!
At this point looking back, it is tempting to go ahead and say what we should have done differently. That we should have had more money, we should have had a more experienced skipper, we should have had more structure and a clearer plan, etc.. However, I feel that even though things weren’t always easy, or didn’t always go to plan, the project is perfect as it is. It is the challenges in life that bring out the best in us, and without these challenges, we wouldn’t learn the vital skills which will help us continue to learn and grow in the future. So, at least while we’re still young(ish), I think I can safely speak for the rest of us in saying that we want to be able to say ‘let’s go for it!’ many more times, even when we know the odds are heavily stacked against me. I think the saying ‘no risk, no reward’ sums it up perfectly. However, don’t take it the wrong way, we have all certainly been very humbled by our experience, and our respect and dedication to mother nature has been significantly strengthened because of it. Here is a fitting quote from a very special man, Sir Peter Blake, who is a huge inspiration to us: “At the end of the project, we should all be able to look ourselves in the eye…in the mirror…and honestly say I gave it my very best shot…”
We certainly did! So after all that, what now for Oasis Armada? Is it really the end?
Well, in many ways, that is up to you. For those of us that are moving on to other things, we will all carry the spirit of Oasis Armada with us in what ever we do, whether it be on land or sea. However, Onja and his boat Sparrow are still in northern Germany waiting for what the warm weather will bring. I know that Onja is planning on having the boat in the water and sailing in the Baltic during the summer, but is not committing to anything other than having more great adventures, increasing his time on the water, and meeting like-minded people interested in joining him. In a more general sense, we who initiated it have always seen Oasis Armada as something to create to give away. In that spirit we warmly welcome anyone individual or group who is interested in taking on the challenge of joining with their own boat, of creating a land team, of continuing building a network of boats with similar interests around the world, or of carrying things forward in any way. We were recently offered another boat for the Armada, however that offer expires very shortly, and as far as I know, currently no one has taken the bait and dived into life at sea, so maybe this is your chance! Also, If anyone is passionate about maintaining the website then get in touch, otherwise it could well stay idle until the next wave of enthusiasm hits these shores.
In the meantime, thanks for following our progress, and don’t forget, whether you are on land on sea, there are many people carrying the impulse of Oasis Armada in their hearts. As we say in the sailing world, fair winds and following seas to you all.
Thomas, over and out.
Hey Thomas, thank you for the update! I want to compliment you on this, the frequency of updates about your project was perfect. Not too often, but close enough to fell connected to it all. Thank you and good luck with your next project.
Hi Thomas & Co,
Have been following since last year.
Truly sorry to hear about the trouble. Very good points in your analysis Thomas. Good statements too. Old revolutionary speaking 😉
Read the sad report on those who did not evaluate their project in time: http://nomadsailors.org/uktomed/taube/
I got a similar boat and a slow going initiative: Nomad Sailors Project. Recently got contacted by a campaigning charity as they got interested into sailing the boat on a sponsored charity journey. So there is some movement.
It would be sorry to let all the experiences float away in the hope it will find fertile ground for new projects. Continuation is important to reach an aim. To build a team. To gain an experience on a higher plan than starting other things over and over.
Contact me. I am willing to listen and provide whatever is possible provide continuation. I am also willing to take over the website until something has been worked out.
Kind regards,
Ibrahim (nomad@nomadtribe.net)