What if
What if history were to repeat itself, and my very best is yet to come? What would that look like?
My Olympic dream took 29 years to become a reality. Without finding the right partner to team up with, it likely would never have happened. Mark Reynolds had a proven record and had already earned Olympic gold and silver medals. Together, we embraced the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together.” In the end, that shared belief carried us to the top of the podium at the Millennium Games in Sydney.
In 2005, I founded Team Paradise Sailing. It was all about providing Paralympic hopefuls with equipment and coaching support until sailing lost its Paralympic status after 2016. To survive, we had to tweak our mission and adjust our course: “Dedicated to changing lives by inspiring and empowering disabled and under-resourced communities, US Veterans, and others through recreational, educational, and healing programs that motivate and engage participants in the sport of sailing.” These sailing experiences offer opportunities for personal growth, mentorship, global camaraderie, team building, and environmental awareness, while providing equal access to Biscayne Bay for diverse and underserved individuals.
Traditionally, Team Paradise has been a labor of love, but it can no longer meet the demand. We found a need, and it is big. Filling it will take a broader effort. Within five years, we will need to have a succession plan in place. I will hand the tiller over when the time comes, but I will remain aboard.
My simple ask is: Would you team up with us and help us serve our mission? Every little bit counts!
Strategic Alignment - TPS Legacy Plan
What:
Transition Team Paradise Sailing from a period of operational stabilization to an aggressive 3- to 5-year scaling phase. The goal is to double our annual budget to exceed $500,000 and more than triple our annual attendance from 1,500 to 5,000 people.
Why:
To increase our community impact and strengthen our eligibility for additional grants.
To offer competitive salaries to our succession team to continue our mission
To capitalize on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
The 5,000-person-per-year goal is attainable
How:
Adding Capacity:
The first J7 has been ordered, and she will anchor our fleet! This is big! Now we will have a boat to demo. “Seventh Heaven” will be delivered to the US SAILING CENTER in November of this year.
Find people who may want to buy a J7, and leave management to us.
Raising funds necessary to achieve a local fleet of seven J7 sailboats
Accepting donations of new J7 sailboats. The price for a new boat delivered to Miami is $81,000
Name-A-Boat: $99,000 (Your name on the hull and main)
Expanding Programming:
Corporate Regattas. Our recent partnership with BoomPop will help us grow
J7 Day Charter (half day, full day - buy 6 get one free, buy 11 get two free)
J7 Regatta Charter
Adult Sailing School, Youth Sailing, and Sailing Excursions
The Guardian Cup (Annual Regatta for Veterans and First Responders)
The S.A.L.T. Cup (For members of Key Biscayne Yacht Club and Coral Reef Yacht Club
Yacht Club Challenges (locally and nationwide)
Local Racing opportunities, BBYRA, The Bacardi Invitational
Increase Exposure
Locally, Regional, Nationwide, and Globally
When:
The Ideal Path: Order six more J7 now; boats can be delivered in 2027.
Continue building momentum: The anchor boat is in place.
Including our three Sonars, we only need three more boats to reach the target capacity.
Where:
Office and dry slips at US Sailing Center (USSC),
Adding mooring balls and dock slips at Dinner Key when they become available
The J/7 - SONAR comp: The J/7 has less draft, easier access through the open transom (think safety in a shallow Biscayne Bay), a boom-vang that holds the boom up (think safety), has a larger and more comfortable cockpit (think capacity) and it has a gennaker that will generate more apparent wind (for a more comfortable ride in a warmer climate (think Miami and Biscayne Bay).