When I Had to Shovel Crap on a Sailing Ship
By Fredrik Sträng
Let me share a truly filthy summer memory—a story of how one day at sea taught me one of the most important lessons in teamwork and leadership.
This was hardly the glamorous part of my New Zealand adventure. Sailing vessels, endless horizons… and there I was, crouched in the claustrophobic crawl space beneath deck, surrounded by sewage from the ship’s head, which had just overflowed. The stench was unbearable, waste smeared everywhere as the ship pitched wildly in high seas.
Yet in that moment of discomfort, I realized something crucial: real leaders and strong teams are forged when no one hesitates to tackle the least pleasant tasks. In any expedition, company, or team, there are always chores that nobody wants to do. Those who do them without complaint—because they know the work must be done for the machine to run—are the ones who earn lasting respect, esprit de corps, and success.
You might wonder: “Fredrik Sträng? A climber of 8 000 m peaks—what was he doing on a sailboat in New Zealand?”
This was before the Himalayas called me. I was eighteen, an exchange student far from the razor-sharp ridges and sheer walls I’d later call home. I’d been given an extraordinary opportunity: to train aboard the Spirit of New Zealand, a program normally reserved for New Zealand citizens.
For one intense week we lived the sailor’s life: bunks below deck, dawn runs around the deck, plunges from the rail into the sea, scrubbing the decks, cleaning the galley and heads—no one got off easy. We learned navigation, plotted charts, prepared for our skipper’s license exam, sailed the open ocean, and explored the islands around Auckland. Above all, we learned that the team always comes before the individual.
Spirit of New Zealand is a three-masted barquentine built in 1986 by the Spirit of Adventure Trust in Auckland. It’s one of the world’s most active sail-training ships for youth, designed to give New Zealand’s young people life-changing sea experiences.
Then came the day of the real “shit job”—the day I had to step up for the team. No one would admit who had clogged the toilet, and our plunger couldn’t clear it. I knew it wasn’t my doing, but someone had to fix it—before the contents overflowed onto the deck in the next swell.
“I’ll handle it,” I said, and before long I was suited in shoulder-length rubber gloves, squatting on the deck, digging out waste and paper from the blocked head. It stank horribly and the mess floated around my feet, but knowing I’d taken responsibility made the chore bearable.
When the blockage proved worse than expected, we realized we’d have to get under deck and dismantle the toilet pipes. I donned oilskins and rubber boots, crawled beneath the crowded storage hold, unscrewed a sealed steel hatch into the crawl space, and found the twisted plumbing.
Armed with a bucket, mop, wrench, and headlamp, I wriggled into the narrow tunnel. It felt like spelunking on a roller coaster—the ship lurched in the waves as I fought seasickness with sheer determination. Which pipe led to that stubborn blockage?
One by one I removed each section, setting buckets to catch leaks. When I finally opened the toilet connection, all manner of filth gushed out: turds, urine, and soggy paper swirling across the floor. I fished out the clumps, gathered paper scraps, mopped up the pee, and scrubbed the walls—while the ship pitched and rolled around me in that sweltering, stinking crawl space.
After hours of grueling cleanup, I emerged on deck for fresh air. No one dared come near—I smelled awful—but I didn’t mind. It’s amazing what we humans can adapt to.
The captain approached, put a hand on my shoulder, and said proudly, “You’ll be using my private shower, and take all the time you need.”
I had completed the task without a hint of self-pity, complaint, or protest—I embraced the suck, as they say. That day wasn’t just about toughening my mind; it was about showing the team that we all must support one another, even if it means handling shit not of our own making.
Lessons Learned
- Team Spirit Through Action: True leaders step up to the unpleasant tasks, even when they aren’t to blame—strengthening the whole group.
- Embrace the Challenge: By embracing the suck, we learn to handle unexpected, unpleasant situations and grow personally and as a team.
- Lead by Example: Taking responsibility for the dirty work shows nothing is too small or too embarrassing, fostering respect and unity.
- Adaptability: Humans can quickly adjust to extreme conditions—a vital insight both at sea and in business.
Good luck out there!
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About Fredrik Sträng:
Fredrik, in his leadership role, has summited seven of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, set a Guinness World Record, and lectures on leadership, communication, decision-making, and crisis management.
Kind regards,
Fredrik Sträng
Climber – Speaker – Coach
