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.
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.
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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