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Sailboat retrospective template

A sailboat retrospective uses a simple picture to help a team talk about what moves them forward, what slows them down and what risks lie ahead. This example comes from a team working towards a billing launch, with notes on each part of the drawing and three actions with owners.

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Sailboat retrospective example showing wind, anchors, rocks and island areas, example notes from a saas team, a checklist of actions with owners
Everything in this example is editable. Replace the labels, move the shapes and adapt the layout to your work.

How to use this template

  1. Set the island first

    Write the goal the team is sailing towards, such as a launch or a quality target. Discussion stays focused when every note can be judged against the same destination.

  2. Collect notes in silence

    Give everyone five minutes to write wind, anchor and rock notes alone before sharing. Quieter team members contribute more, and the loudest view does not set the tone.

  3. Leave with few actions

    Group similar notes, vote and pick two or three changes with an owner each. Tick them off at the next retrospective so the team sees that actions lead somewhere.

Questions about this template

What goes in the wind, anchors, rocks and island areas?

Wind is what helped the team, anchors are what slowed it down, rocks are risks ahead and the island is the goal. Replace the example notes with your team's own.

Do I need an account to use it?

No. Open the template and edit it in your browser. Your work saves on this device. An account is optional if you want to sync your workspace.

Can I export the finished diagram?

Yes. Use Export in the editor to save a PNG, SVG or PDF, or download an editable .epicdraw backup.

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