British Round the World Yachtsman Alex Alley has spoken all over the world on his racing experiences, from teaching himself to sail to representing and winning for his country by the age of 19. Leading a team around the world through the freezing expanse of the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, dealing with serious medical emergencies thousands of miles from help, yet still managing to keep the team motivated and continue to achieve records.

Alex talks candidly about living, and working, with the same team 24/7 for up to 8 weeks at a time through storms and life threatening conditions. How do you motivate a team when they are 1000 miles from civilisation, 3 crew down, one seriously injured, it’s freezing cold outside with huge waves pounding the boat day and night. Still a month from the finish and dry land, 2000 miles behind the rest of the fleet, the team are completely alone, but they don’t give up...


Join him as he takes you onboard with powerful video footage and feel the highest highs and the lowest lows as the team battle against the odds – and beat them.

Hear the story from someone who has really been there – an ordinary man who has achieved extraordinary things.
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Alex has just returned from competing in the ‘Global Challenge’ as Watch Leader on Team Stelmar. Dubbed ‘The Worlds Toughest Yacht Race’, it sails the ‘wrong’ way round the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Alex stepped in as a last minute replacement after the previous Watch Leader left just 2 days before leaving for the Southern Ocean. Alex took on a de-motivated and disillusioned watch and then had the job of converting them into an effective, high performing team. The watch included an eclectic mix including several, highly successful company directors. On top of all this, Alex had to deal with the trauma and emotional loss of not 1, but 2 crew due to medical evacuations around the notorious Cape Horn. Battling against gale force winds and mountainous waves, they had to divert 2000 miles to drop of one of the injured crew to enable him to be operated on. Then to keep the watch motivated for the remainder of the 54 day leg in the freezing cold expanse of the Southern Ocean, took all his skill and effort, despite being put under immense pressure to retire from the leg. By persevering and carrying on, they managed to record one of four 24 hour distance records for the team. Team Stelmar finished the race as a very close crew.

They gained a knowledge, trust and respect for each other that none of the other teams managed. During the 10 months of the race, Alex covered over 35,000 miles in some of the world’s most hostile oceans. This now takes his total racing mileage to over 70,000.
Alex began sailing as a child in Mirror dinghies. A highly competitive individual who after teaching himself to sail, began to become more and more interested in making his boat go faster. He was bitten by the yacht racing bug in Ramsgate whilst crewing on other peoples boats. After leaving school, Alex moved to Southampton to study Yacht Design and manufacture and to be nearer the heart of Yacht racing, the river Hamble and Cowes. During his 15 years as a sales manager, he still got time to ‘roam’ the pontoons and get a ride on as many boats as possible for experience.

Alex ended up as part of a team selected to represent England in an International Team Competition in Ireland. The 3 boat English team, of which Alex was a part, went on to win Alex’s next adventure is to compete in a single handed transatlantic race in a 21’ yacht.

What Alex will give you is…

o An amazing story, fraught with danger, trauma, leadership and people management.
o A vital, energetic and positive boost to your organisation.
o An insight into the lessons learnt, and how they relate to business and personal life.
o Comparisons between sailing and business.

"Many thanks for an excellent presentation enthusiastically delivered. Feedback has been excellent and many references made to it during the following mornings workshops"
Chris Borrill, Director, Military Customer Support, Thales Group

"His presentation style is impressive, a mix of adventure stories, hardship, success, setback and the one over riding message that you should never, ever, give up. Alex was an inspiration to our team, and whatever challenges we face there was motivation and techniques to help succeed for all of us."
John Mobly, Managing Director, Newnet plc

"Alex was an enthusiastic and engaging speaker, bringing to life the trials and tribulations of the Global Challenge. His talk was very interesting with some great stories and anecdotes. Moreover, he made it relevant to our business need with the theme of "challenge" cleverly interwoven into his talk. The group found him very motivational and took away some useful learnings. A terrific speaker who can be highly recommended."
Sarah Tett, Commercial Analytics Team, GSK

“I want to thank you for an excellent contribution to the (Leaders) Forum workshop last week. The amount of questions at the end of your talk and the rest of the evening shows how much you provoked thinking and how enjoyable it was.
The workshop was a great success as evidenced by feedback from the CD leaders themselves, both verbal and in the ratings at the end. You contributed significantly to this success & we really appreciate your efforts to make this a success. The feedback from your session was very positive and I think everyone will remember your high sea adventures for a long time (and also apply your principles).”
Anne Brindley, CD Leaders Professional Development, AstraZeneca

"What an excellent presentation. Alex was confident, interesting and as inspirational as the subject he was presenting. He captured the attention of the audience with his warm personality and held it throughout; a truly motivational speaker"
Sue Quinnan, Senior Intelligence Officer, HM Revenue and Customs

"Alex has the most extraordinary leadership skills. He has an innate way of understanding
what is required to motivate the team at any given moment. The difference is his
blend of expertise, and his unending optimism and energy. Alex has my enormous respect.
I have lead teams and facilitated large groups and have never seen it done better."
Sharon Callaghan, Manager British Airways Executive Club

"I sailed over 7000 miles with Alex from Cape Town to Boston in 2005. Our Challenge boat was racing hard 24 hours a
day and as a watch leader Alex showed a special combination of practical sailing skills, teaching ability and above all
calmness under pressure when leading his team through tough conditions. I would recommend him to anyone who is
seeking an exceptional person to help develop leadership and motivational skills as well of course his undoubted ability in
a sailing boat."
Rob Packham QPM, Consultant
Previously Deputy Director General, National Crime Squad

"Possibly the most motivated and positive person I have met."
James Smith, Supply Chain Integration Project Manager, Unilever UK Foods
There is only one thing stopping you achieving your goals, that one thing is yourself. If you are determined enough
to succeed, then you will.