The Company of Friends network brings together Fast Company readers who want to make waves on the job. Last September, two CoF cells got together to share ideas and to make waves -- literally. More than 20 people from the Boston and Providence, Rhode Island cells took part in an afternoon outing conducted by America's Cup Charters in Newport, Rhode Island. After renting a pair of 12-meter yachts, the two cells enjoyed a little friendly competition.

'We needed to get the Boston and Providence groups together somehow,' says Ted Moore, 29, organizer of the event and former coordinator of the Providence cell. 'I wanted the movers and shakers from the Boston cell to see what Rhode Island and its people are like. Similarly, I wanted the Rhode Island members to meet people from a major market like Boston.'

The event got both cells out of doors and 'out of the box,' says Sean Ness, 29, a product specialist at Forrester Research and an associate of the Boston cell. 'Each boat had a crew, but the crews needed our help. People on each team tightened up the sails and swung them around to move their boat forward and backward. The key was to match people according to their strengths.'

After taking to the open seas, cell members took to opening their minds. 'After a clear victory by the Boston boat, the two teams met for a cookout and some lively discussion,' Moore says. 'We talked about what it means to be 'fast,' about recent developments in computing, and about the challenge of going free-agent.'

From: March 2000 issue