What Sailing Taught Me About Energy & Endurance!

This adventure is moving fast. The Clipper Race is rapidly approaching, particularly Leg 1, which is expected to last around 33 days. We’ll set out from Portsmouth, UK on August 31, 2025, with a short stop in Porto Sherry, Spain, before heading across the Atlantic to Punta del Este, Uruguay, on August 31, 2025.

Our crew will include 18 sailors, joining our skipper, Heather, and mate, Millie. All the preparation — four levels of training — will hopefully pay off. And it’s in support of a great cause as well https://www.justgiving.com/page/lyne-desormeaux-1.

Awareness of Energy Level

Level 4 training included a one-day race against nine other sailboats, an incredible challenge. We placed third. I followed that by flying to Marseille for a 5K swim https://www.defimonte-cristo.com/fr. Last year’s race had been cancelled due to strong winds, so I didn’t want to miss my chance this year, despite the intense training schedule and sleep deprivation from the four-hour watch rotations.

After a week at sea, followed by a flight back to Paris, a train to Marseille, and the open-water swim, I’ve been in recovery mode. That experience made me acutely aware of how much I had overestimated my energy reserves. Since then, I’ve been researching how to manage energy while living on a watch system and how to be better prepared for the race.  

Renewal and Recovery Cycle

Leadership, like endurance sports, requires sustained energy over time. Just as athletes train and recover to perform at their best, leaders must also build in cycles of renewal to maintain their effectiveness. My colleague, Anne Evangelista, explores this in her latest book, The Endurance Leader: Leadership Longevity in a Fast-Paced World. One question she poses has stayed with me: “If you could spend 10 percent more time recovering, what difference would that make in your energy, attitude, and physical and mental health?”
In both leadership and sports, recovery is essential, not a luxury. That 10 percent could be the difference between burnout and resilience, between reaction and clarity. As I prepare for the Clipper Race, I’m more aware than ever of how intentional rest builds long-term strength, whether on the water or in the workplace.

Managing Energy in Leadership

​I hear it all the time from clients: they are taking on more responsibility, navigating complex global roles, traveling across time zones, and trying to balance work and family. Some have young children. Others are managing teams across continents. In these contexts, time management alone is insufficient. Energy management becomes the key.

For global leaders, this means establishing a sustainable schedule that incorporates regular exercise and adequate rest. It also means surrounding themselves with strong teams: delegating, investing in succession planning, and developing direct reports who can deliver results and drive strategy. The ability to manage energy isn’t just personal; it impacts the whole organization.

Managing Energy in Training

After completing Level 4, I gave myself June to rest, including sleep, massage, time with friends, and family. Now, with two months to go, I feel ready. My current rhythm includes three swims, one run, and one weight training session every week. I’ve also signed up for a short lake swim of 3,800 meters in Lake Maggiore on August 1st, while visiting friends in Brissago, Switzerland (see lake crossing).
The balance of exertion and recovery matters—whether you’re training for a transatlantic race or leading in a complex world.
If you are interested in our leadership services, you can learn more about them on our website at www.desormeauxconsulting.com or contact me directly at [email protected].

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