Spotlight on safety
The sailing community in Miami is a family, and we've all been deeply affected by the tragic accident that occurred during the summer camp near the Miami Yacht Club. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences go out to all the families and individuals impacted by this devastating event. In times like these, it's more important than ever to come together and reflect on what we can do to ensure the safety of everyone on the water. This blog serves as our contribution.
What is Seamanship?
Seamanship isn’t just a skill—it’s an instinct. You could describe it as a protective instinct, a force that drives a mariner to save lives and equipment at a moment’s notice. It’s that critical instant when you’re navigating at high speed and a sudden, unexpected problem appears. It's like running down a path and a fork appears in the road; one path leads to a cliff, the other to safety. Seamanship is about having the knowledge and experience to take the right path without a second thought….
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But seamanship is also about what happens long before that moment arrives. It’s the quiet, often unglamorous work of preparation. A true seaman spends countless hours planning a route, meticulously maintaining the vessel, studying the weather, and practicing emergency drills. Their goal is to make sure that "fork in the road" never appears in the first place.
When a crisis does strike, a seaman's training and experience take over. They have the wisdom to know when to take a risk and when to back off. They understand their vessel, the sea, and their crew, allowing them to make split-second decisions that can prevent a small problem from becoming a catastrophe. This ability to remain calm and make the right call under pressure is the hallmark of a skilled mariner.
The Siebel Sailors Program, funded by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation in partnership with US Sailing, was a program designed to increase diversity and opportunity in the sport of sailing for youth. The grant provided resources and support to public-access sailing centers across the United States.
Our Path
As a result of sailing being eliminated from the Paralympic Games after 2016, Team Paradise turned to Youth Sailing. I didn’t know much about working with youth, even though I’m a kid at heart. Our then corporate administrator, Ms Susan, learned about the Siebel Sailors grant from US Sailing. Our board hesitated at first, but to Susan and me, it was a “no-brainer”. In the Spring of 2020, we were selected as a Siebel Sailors program and on board with the youth sailing community. We were given access to all the resources available to man. The certification requirements (Levels 1, 2, 3), Safesport (protecting minors), CPR (first aid), swimming skills, the emergency action plan, coach boat driving skills, lesson plans, and curricula for beginners and intermediates, the ultimate volunteer application, how to perform background checks, boats and life preservers to keep, and a coach to come and teach us regularly. In short, we were given the turnkey on how to operate a youth sailing program.
Now in the post-Siebel era, we have made modifications and tweaks. The five Siebel sailors program values, Respect, Effort, Inclusiveness, Student Voice, and Fun, are partially gone, but not forgotten. Instead, we make sure that we can check off on being Safe, having Fun, and ensuring that everyone is Learning! We debrief after every program day with the kids and separately with the coaches. Check out our blog on Lessons Learned!
Key aspects of the Siebel Sailors Program included:
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The program aimed to get more youth, particularly those who were historically underrepresented in sailing, involved in the sport. A key mandate was that at least 50% of the sailors at each center would come from underrepresented populations.
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Siebel Centers received a fleet of RS Feva sailboats, other necessary equipment (like life jackets), and a safety boat.
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The program provided centers with expert US Sailing coaches who focused on a modern, positive, and inclusive coaching style.
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The curriculum was based on research in positive youth development and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee's American Development Model. It emphasized not only sailing skills but also social skills, emotional development, and problem-solving to help kids "play for life.
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The program partnered with community-based sailing organizations across the country that shared the goal of providing access to sailing for a wider range of young people.
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After the initial three-year grant period (which ran from 2019-2022), the equipment provided by the program remained at the sailing centers, allowing them to continue to serve sailors and build on the program's foundation.
A Stellar Review from Principal Simmonds of CARE Elementary
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Skills: "I give you five stars. There is no room for improvement." Principal Simmonds's words are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
We're proud to know that our skills are making a real difference in the lives of the students we serve.
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Timing: "I give you five stars. You’re always on time. Our students come here, and you’re always ready to go. When the bus arrives, they leave on time. You can’t do better than that."
Punctuality and preparation are crucial to creating a smooth and stress-free experience for students and staff alike. This feedback confirms that our commitment to being ready when the students are has been a success.
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Safety: "While you received five stars in the two previous categories, safety requires constant improvement and massaging. Debrief after every event to identify areas for improvement. You've had a couple of incidents, but I must say you acted immediately on what happened, and you followed your emergency plan to the T. You had your first aid kit on hand, and you filed an incident report. You did the right thing, so I give you the highest mark here as well. I’ll give you five stars."
This detailed review of safety is particularly meaningful. Principal Simmonds's emphasis on continuous improvement is something we take to heart. We're proud of our team's immediate and professional response to incidents, and we will continue to prioritize and refine our safety protocols.
We're incredibly thankful to Principal Simmonds for his honest and insightful feedback. His support motivates us to continue striving for excellence in all that we do.
More about Team Paradise
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Current and past collaborators:
City of Miami Parks & Recreation
Miami Water Keeper
Genesis Hopeful Haven
Devine Academy
Breakthrough Miami
CARE Elementary
Beautiful Little Havannah
Camillus House (Verde Garden Campus)
Miami Learning Experience
Specific City Parks:
Charlie De Lucca Park
Clemente Park
Coral Gate Park
Duarte Park
Esther Mae Armbrister Park
Gerry Curtis Park
Grapeland Park
Henderson Park
Henry Reeves Park
Jose Marti Park
Legion Park
Little Haiti Soccer Park
Moore Park
Morningside Park
Peacock Park
Ruben Dario Park
Shenandoah Park
Virrick Park
West End Park
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About our Founder
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Magnus is a Swedish-born sailor who became an American citizen in 1994. Together with Mark Reynolds, they won the gold medal in the Star Class at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Magnus is the fifth male crew to have won the Rolex World Sailor Of The Year Award since its inception in 1994, and the only American male crew to ever win it.
Magnus has also won six Bacardi Cups, sailing with four different skippers and numerous European and North American Championships.
Magnus volunteered at Shake-A-Leg Miami from 1991 to 2004.
After the Olympics, he dedicated himself to giving back to the sport and formed Team Paradise Sailing in 2005 to benefit athletes with disabilities worldwide.
Today, Team Paradise is an accredited US Sailing Community Program and a US Sailing accredited Sailing School.
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Olympic Medallists:
Buddy Melges
Stig Wennerstrom
Kevin Burnham
Morgan Reser
Hans Wallen
John Kostecki
Mark Reynolds
Freddie Loof
Ian Percy
Pelle Petterson
Brian Ledbetter
Other Olympians:
Peter Kolni
Charlie Ogletree
Vince Brun
Peter Bromby
Rockstars
Jimmy Spithill
Mark Mendelblatt
Augie Diaz
Jud Smith
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2013 Gay S. Lynn Memorial Award. This award is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to sailors with disabilities and the sport of adaptive sailing over a sustained period.
2016 Ronald McDonald “12 Good Men” Award. The. Ronald McDonald "12 Good Men Award," which is specifically for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of South Florida, has the following criteria:
Outstanding Community Involvement: Honorees must have a history of significant involvement in their community.
Civic Service: They must demonstrate exemplary civic duty.
Support for South Florida Charities: They must show unwavering support for one or more of the leading charity organizations in the South Florida area.
The selection process is unique:
Candidates are first nominated by previous recipients of the "12 Good Men Award."
An event committee then reviews the nominations and selects the 12 finalists who are recognized at the annual "Twelve Good Men Luncheon."
The award is considered one of the region's most prestigious philanthropic honors, and the luncheon serves as a major fundraiser for the RMHC of South Florida, helping to support families with seriously ill children.
2017 Dockwalloper. The Dockwalloper Award is the Coral Reef Yacht Club's highest honor.1 It is presented annually to a member or their spouse who demonstrates outstanding personal leadership in amateur yacht racing.2 The key criteria for the award are:
Leadership in amateur yacht racing: The recipient must show significant leadership in the sailing community, both within and beyond the club.3
Contribution to sailing: The award recognizes contributions to the sport of sailing, whether in the bay or the ocean.4 This is not strictly based on competitive performance, but rather on a positive impact on the sailing community.5
Special Recognition: The individual's actions must merit "special recognition" for their positive influence on the sport and the club.6
2018 Honorary MBA, Florida State University, Chapman School Of Business. Awarded for his continuous support in the community.