P.O.Box 4595, Annapolis, MD 21403

+1 240 401 8220

+1 240 401 8220

  • Home
  • RESCUE SWIMMER
  • DEPT. OF LEARNING
  • Sailing Medical Services
  • Dept. of Logistics
  • YouTube Channel
  • Speaking and Keynotes
  • Media
  • Dept. of Happiness
  • Sailing Checklist Bonanza
  • Incident Data Base
  • FLARE DISPOSAL PROGRAM
  • About Us
  • More
    • Home
    • RESCUE SWIMMER
    • DEPT. OF LEARNING
    • Sailing Medical Services
    • Dept. of Logistics
    • YouTube Channel
    • Speaking and Keynotes
    • Media
    • Dept. of Happiness
    • Sailing Checklist Bonanza
    • Incident Data Base
    • FLARE DISPOSAL PROGRAM
    • About Us
  • Home
  • RESCUE SWIMMER
  • DEPT. OF LEARNING
  • Sailing Medical Services
  • Dept. of Logistics
  • YouTube Channel
  • Speaking and Keynotes
  • Media
  • Dept. of Happiness
  • Sailing Checklist Bonanza
  • Incident Data Base
  • FLARE DISPOSAL PROGRAM
  • About Us

Sail Fast - Sail Safe

Sail Fast - Sail SafeSail Fast - Sail Safe

Elevate Team Dynamics: Unlock the Power of Teamwork

Captain & Crisis Responder John Schafer
Speaking Services

A popular sailing YouTube personality and Team Building Performance expert, John Schafer brings his Four Rules for Team Building alive for operational effectiveness and personal accountability leaders. Schafer is no stranger to what it takes to establish a path of success.  After serving in the US Army, he became one of the first Humanitarian Security Officers shaping foundation of what it takes to protect those who travel into war zones to provide aid. The blend of his experiences in Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq and in responding to kidnap situations around the globe, provides the basis for his unique team building strategies.  John is an authority on Crisis Response and Safety Leadership. With 40 years of Crisis Response, Offshore Sailing and personal NGO Security Industry Leadership he blends real-world missions into unforgettable tools for every industry.


Captain & Crisis Responder John Schafer has innovated numerous projects that are saving lives every single day. From the UN Project "Saving Lives Together", founding of the 'International NGO Safety and Security Association', Hostage USA and influencing the creation of the "White House Office of Hostage Affairs", Schafer speaks to leaders emphasizing that safety cannot exist without teamwork - and teamwork will be hampered without leadership. Schafer also brings a living account of first-hand details of operating with limited resources to cross border humanitarian efforts in war torn countries.  Furthermore, as an accomplished offshore sailor and Safety at Sea Moderator for US Sailing, he brings worlds that seem far away into relevance for every leader.


Bring the wealth of hard-earned wisdom and experience to your next speaking engagement, keynote speaker slot, boardroom meeting, interview, discussion panel, documentary or event.

Topic: Four Rules of Teamwork

FOUR RULES OF TEAMWORK

Safety is the cornerstone to improving lives.  It is the responsible leader who provides an environment for each teammate to speak freely about their safety observations without trepidations of backlash or insult.  The four rules of teamwork provide an ethos for any organization which will transform a team into a launching pad of success rather than a landing pad for the status quo.  Understanding, modifying and adapting these principles will transform each level of leadership in creating teams that work together and exceed goals.  This program will make positive impacts on team performance and dedication missions. The "Four Rules of Teamwork are unforgettable and will enhance any operation, mission or team.  If increasing performance is your goal - it is a winning combination. 

Crossing Oceans is no different than creating and meeting challenging goals. 

Topic: Leaders Lead

Leaders need to Lead.  Schafer uses his worldwide experience to inspire leaders in identifying pitfalls that many leaders fall into.   Unlock the power of teamwork, resilience, and high-performance leadership.  Schafer combines his success in operating in the world's most insecure locations with his experience as a seasoned yachtsman with over 40 years of international racing experience. From crossing borders in Sudan providing aid, responding to Hi-Seas Piracy and driving teams to victory in ocean racing.  John's keynotes inspire organizations to achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and maximize collaboration. Transform your team's potential by learning from one of the world's leading experts in managing teams, crisis response and business success. Book Schafer today to elevate your next event, motivate your leaders, learn how build teams - builds success.

Management Leadership Exercise

This full day simulated exercise will stretch your Leadership Team.  Through the use of a table-top exercise, three crisis response professionals will test your policies, identify weakness, provide proven controls to assist and prepare your leaders for the worst-case scenario.  The time to find out your Crisis Response Plan is broken - is not in the midst of a crisis.  This same program changed the face of Crisis Response for the Largest NGOs operating in the world's most dangerous places.  Are you prepared?  

Proven Crisis Response Skills - Schafer literally wrote the book for NGO Crisis Response.

Plan your Safety at Sea Seminar Today

Safety at Sea

Book Schafer for your Safety at Sea Seminar with US Sailing.  As an approved Safety at Sea Moderator, he makes the sessions come alive and relevant for every sailor.  


Obtaining an International Offshore Safety at Sea Certificate

If you have taken an Offshore course (either online or in-person), you are eligible to take a one-day hands-on ONLY course within 365 days to receive the International Offshore certificate. You are expected to have completed your Offshore in-person or your Offshore online course before attending the Hands-On course.


As the National Governing Body for the Sport of Sailing, US Sailing is the only organization in the United States sanctioned by World Sailing to issue Safety at Sea certificates.

   Contact US Sailing.


 US Sailing Approved Moderators - US Sailing 

Groundbreaking Thought Leadership

In the News

Somali Piracy

In the News

Context for small operations in high security locations. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2010/03/10/smaller-charities-sometimes-ill-prepared/24010855007/

Cited work

Somali Piracy

In the News

Schafer provided a groundbreaking mode in security collaboration.  Cited in research. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0095327X12446923?download=true&journalCode=afsa

Somali Piracy

Somali Piracy

Schafer Speaks to World Bank

Provides context for Somalia Piracy attacks on Aid Workers https://www.npr.org/2009/04/13/103035759/somali-pirates-threaten-revenge

Schafer Speaks to World Bank

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

Schafer Speaks to World Bank

Focus on Road Traffic Accidents abroad ".  http://michelleyeoh.info/MakeRoadsSafe/makeroadssafe_101409.html

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

Providing insight into operations in high-risk locations https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/sites/default/files/migrated/2014-11/TO%20STAY%20AND%20DELIVER%20Good%20practice%20for%20humanitarians%20in%20complex%20security%20environments.pdf

Harvard Good Practice Review

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

United Nations "Stay and Deliver"

Program advice for Security abroad 


https://hhi.harvard.edu/files/humanitarianinitiative/files/training_humanitarian_professionals_at_a_distance_testing_the_feasibility_of_distance_learning_with_humanitarian_professionals.pdf?m=1614970246

Profiled

Vanity Fair

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Schafer provides expertise and comments in Vanity Fair.  Bryan Burrough on Richard Engel’s Syria Mistake, and How NBC Avoided Another Scandal | Vanity Fair 

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Schafer provided a groundbreaking work in security collaboration.  A framework for "Saving Lives Together" a security program for UN and NGOs to share important information..  Microsoft Word - SCBPG-2010-FINAL.docx 

Rescue in Congo

Groundbreaking Work in Security Collaboration

Most Influential Persons in Security

Story of rescue coordination in the Congo https://www.devex.com/news/in-conflict-zones-aid-gets-defensive-29207

Most Influential Persons in Security

Most Influential Persons in Security

Most Influential Persons in Security

Schafer selected as one of the "Most Influential Persons in Security".  The Most Influential People in Security 2013 | 2013-09-01 | Security Magazine 

Corporate Lawyers Association

Most Influential Persons in Security

Corporate Lawyers Association

Schafer speaks to the In-house Corporate Lawyers Association on "Duty of Care" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmJDazaGfqw

NPR Interview

Most Influential Persons in Security

Corporate Lawyers Association

Schafer on Aid Worker assaults https://www.npr.org/2009/11/17/120459085/as-risks-rise-aid-agencies-struggle-to-adapt

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Better yet, see us in person!

We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.

Ministry of Sailing

Annapolis, Maryland, United States

240 401 8220

Hours

Today

Closed

  • FLARE DISPOSAL PROGRAM

Ministry of Sailing

P.O.Box 4595, Annapolis, MD 21403

240 401 8220

Copyright © 2025 Ministry of Sailing - All Rights Reserved. 

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept