A win-win opportunity!
The Ransom Upper School contacted us in mid-February about an opportunity for 20 volunteers to help Team Paradise for a few hours. We needed to determine how to make this opportunity beneficial for both Ransom students and our program.
It may sound cliché, but we really had to think out of the box. Earlier in the year, on a day with inclement weather and a high probability of storms, our L3-certified youth head coach, Ella, came up with a great idea. What if we do a relay race with two boats? We wouldn't even have to leave the harbor. We could pull the two boats and get everyone back inside the building within 10 minutes, or less. The kids loved it! Coach Ella posted it on social media. It was a hit!
The Paradise Triangle
Let's put on a relay race for the Ransom students! We can take pictures and videos and show them to our kids, so that they can see what's possible. Team Paradise offers a STEM class on Saturdays, and at the same time, we have a Next-Level class for kids who know a little more about sailing. Basically, we proposed making the Ransom students role models for our students. Many of them are connected without even knowing. The bulk of our STEM students come from CARE Elementary School in Overtown. During the summer, some are offered scholarships to the Middle School. Every once in a while, yours truly gets to write Letters of Recommendation, which completes our “Paradise Triangle”.
How much fun did we have?
A small craft advisory was in effect throughout the evening. The forecast called for east winds 15 to 20 kt. Given our location and the contestants' high skill level, the conditions were ideal! What made it even easier for Team Paradise was to have such a high-level coaching staff from Ransom. Nikki Barnes and her husband, David Bargehr, both Olympians, are simply awesome people. So are coach Agustin Vidal and the student assistant coach, Marcus. They all engaged, taking the initiative to move markers around, while Nikki and David controlled the dock. Combined, they ultimately made our event even better. The Ransom students were inspirational. They tweaked the sailing instructions by having each heat start all four boats together, which made everything more exciting. Also, they added team-racing tactics, which made the event even more action-packed. We managed to run five races in 75 minutes, which kept us on schedule. Hurrah for us!
Once the boats were stored, we took team pictures and hung out together, even if only for a short time. The group that I was looking at is surely the next generation of immensely successful people, no matter what they pursue.
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Season after season, the Team Paradise Sailing program, led by Susan and Magnus, has been an incredible blessing to our CARE students. What they are doing goes far beyond teaching children how to sail. They are building character. Our students return more responsible, more disciplined, and noticeably more well-mannered. Sailing demands focus, teamwork, patience, and respect for leadership qualities that translate directly back into the classroom and everyday life. Many of our children had never been exposed to water in this way, and now they are confidently navigating it while being introduced to an Olympic-recognized sport that broadens their vision of what is possible. Susan and Magnus create a culture of excellence, safety, and encouragement that challenges our students to rise higher each season. CARE Elementary School is deeply grateful for the lasting impact Team Paradise Sailing continues to make in shaping not only skilled sailors but also strong young leaders.
Principal Simmonds,
CARE Elementary School
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Please know that we always need volunteers for our Saturday Youth Sailing Program and also Summer Camp. The best way to get a feel for what we do is to visit our blog page. Thank You!
Video from our original Relay Race in January, 2026❤️
A great big THANK you to everyone involved with this event! You performed your part beautifully!
Let’s Go Sailing,
Magnus Liljedahl
Founder/Program Director