Themed
Sailboat retrospective template
Run a Sailboat retrospective online for free: wind, anchors, rocks and island. Hidden cards, voting, no sign-up.
Opens a new board with these columns, right in your browser.
What is the Sailboat retrospective?
The Sailboat retrospective (also called Speedboat or Sailing) pictures the team as a boat heading for an island. The Wind is what pushes the team forward, Anchors are what slow it down, Rocks are risks ahead, and the Island is the goal. The metaphor helps people talk about risks and goals, not just the past sprint.
The columns
- Wind
- Anchors
- Rocks
- Island
When to use it
Use it when the team has a clear goal (a launch, a milestone), when you want to talk about risks, or when regular formats feel stale.
How to run it in Peel in 5 steps
- Create a Sailboat board and write the goal on the Island first.
- Write Wind and Anchor cards silently, then add Rocks for risks you see ahead.
- Reveal all cards and group them.
- Vote on Anchors and Rocks; discuss the top items.
- Plan actions to lift anchors and steer around rocks, with owners and due dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sailboat and Speedboat?
Speedboat focuses on engines (what speeds us up) and anchors. Sailboat adds rocks (risks) and the island (goal).
Do we need a drawing?
No. Peel shows each part of the metaphor as a column with an emoji, which works in every language.