We got this!
Today was another fantastic day for our team! The morning started with Miss Justine leading an engaging STEM lesson in the classroom, capturing the students' attention with hands-on activities and real-world connections. At the same time, Coach Josh held an informative session for the NextLevel sailors on the second-floor breezeway. After taking our team picture, we all went to the docks to rig the boats and go sailing.
We followed our protocol, sailing together towards the Sister Banks by the Viscaya museum. Our fleet naturally stretched out as we sailed, with three different types of RS boats in action. With its larger sail area and crew capacity, the RS Venture pulled ahead and was the first to reach our destination. The RS Feva followed it, and finally the RS Tera, with the smallest sail area, brought up the rear. The spread offered a perfect opportunity to observe how sail design and boat size affect performance—a real-life extension of our STEM lessons.
Once we settled in, our students alternated trying out the boats and sailing with other crews. Time flies when you are having fun; suddenly, it was time to head back. It took a while to get reorganized, and it didn’t turn out how it should have. We need to streamline this process, and I accept the challenge🙂
To improve communication, add a bullhorn for the Castoldi.
Have students accept the boat and crew assignments without any delay.
Ensure that everyone knows how to lift the rudders and centerboards/daggerboards.
Ensure that everyone is aware of which route to take. If the tide is low, we must take the long way home. If the tide is high, we can take the shortcut.
Have the RS Tera star sailing home first, then the RS Feva, and then the RS Venture.
Before maneuvering at the dock, ensure that the rudder blade and the centerboards/daggerboards are down.
Please read the “If an accident occurs” and “How Tidewater flows in Biscayne Bay? in the Lesson Learned section below.
Lessons Learned
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Think Safety! If an accident occurs, inform the coaching staff immediately. It is super important to do so! Do not procrastinate, delay, or think that whatever happened is not severe enough. Please let us make that decision.Item description
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The tidal flow in Biscayne Bay is interesting because it differs from places with bigger tides like New England or the Pacific Northwest.
Here's a simple breakdown:
Tidal Range: Biscayne Bay has a small tidal range — usually about 1.5 to 2.5 feet between high and low tide. It’s a microtidal system.
Flow Direction:
When the tide rises (flood tide), ocean water flows westward into the bay through the passes (like Government Cut, Norris Cut, Bear Cut, and the inlets down by Key Biscayne and further south).. Along our shoreline, it flows from Brickell toward Dinner Key
When the tide falls (ebb tide), water flows eastward out of the bay back to the Atlantic Ocean. Along our shoreline, it flows from Dinner Key towards Brickell.
Speed:
Tidal currents are gentle compared to open ocean areas. Typically around 0.5 knots or less in most of the bay. Near the cuts (like Norris Cut near Fisher Island) it can be faster — up to 2–3 knots.Special Features:
The bay is shallow, often only a few feet deep outside marked channels.
There are also influences from wind — strong winds (especially from the east or southeast) can push water into the bay, making the tides seem "higher" or "later" than predicted.
Freshwater inflows (like from canals after rain) can also affect the bay’s water movement, especially in the northern parts.
Timing:
Tide times can differ slightly across different parts of the bay. For example, high tide at the north end (like near Haulover Cut) might occur a bit earlier than high tide at the south end near Card Sound.
In short:
Rising tide = ocean water flows into Biscayne Bay.
Falling tide = bay water flows out to the ocean.
Flow strength is light in open areas, faster near cuts and channels.
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Don't sail away from the group—stick together!
When we stay close, we stand out and become more visible to oncoming boat traffic. Safety starts with awareness, and staying in formation helps everyone stay safe.If someone capsizes or falls behind—wait up!
We look out for each other on the water.
We're a team, and we sail as one.tem description -
Want to get back to the dock sooner rather than later? Aim for your destination!
Sailing the shortest and most direct route is not only smart—it’s often necessary.There are plenty of good reasons:
⛵ We may want to beat the rush back to the dock.
🌩 A thunderstorm may be approaching.
🕓 Or maybe it’s just time to wrap up a great day on the water.Sail with purpose. Stay focused. Head home smart.Item description
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Flogging the sails refers to a situation where the sails are flogging uncontrollably in the wind. It could be any sail, main, jib, or spinnaker. This usually happens when a boat is head-to-wind or tied to a mooring or a dock. The remedy is to trim the sail in or lower it.
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Hull Damage – Running aground can cause severe damage to the hull, leading to leaks, structural issues, or even sinking.
Propeller and Rudder Damage – The propeller, rudder, and keel can be severely damaged, affecting maneuverability and performance.
Crew and Passenger Safety – A sudden stop from grounding can cause injuries, especially if people are moving around the boat.
Stranding and Rescue Risks – A grounded boat may become stuck, requiring costly and time-consuming rescue efforts.
Environmental Harm – Grounding can damage fragile ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, or marine habitats.
Legal and Financial Consequences – In some areas, damaging marine environments can result in fines or liability for restoration costs.
Loss of Control – Once aground, the boat may be vulnerable to wind, waves, and tides, making recovery more difficult.
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Personal Preparation and Safety
Wear protective clothing, sunscreen, and a hat.
Wear closed-toe shoes.
Wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket with a safety whistle attached.
Identify three program safety rules.
Identify emergency steps on land and water.
Towing
Check your bow line for towing.
Hand your bow line to the instructor safely.
Steer the boat in-line and keep it flat while attached to a tow line.
Recoil and stow the bow line after release.
Capsize Recovery
Stay with the boat, untangle the mainsheet, and swim to the centerboard.
Press down on the daggerboard/centerboard/leeboard to upright the boat.
Get back into the boat.
Identify three ways to prevent capsizing.
Identify three capsize safety guidelines.
Demonstrate recovery from a turtle position.
Overboard Rescue
Alert others by saying "Crew Overboard!"
Keep visual contact and point if possible.
Tack to return to the person/object in the water.
Stop in a safety position with the person on the windward side.
Retrieve the person over the stern or pick up the object.
Review Beginner Sailing Skills
Review completed Phase 1, 2, and 3 Beginner Sailing Skills.
Understanding Wind
Define "puff" and identify two visual cues.
Define "lull" and identify two visual cues.
Parts of the Boat
Identify common boat parts (windward, leeward, transom, gooseneck, etc.).
Identify boat-specific parts.
Identify standing vs. running rigging.
Parts of the Sail & Control Lines
Identify three types of telltales.
Demonstrate how outhaul, cunningham, boom vang, and halyard affect sail shape.
Mast Rake
Identify when the mast is raked forward, backward, or neutral.
Adjust mast rake using rigging.
Steering with Rudder, Body Weight & Sails
Hold a steady course with the tiller while adjusting body and sail trim.
Steer up/down using body weight.
Steer up/down using sail trim.
Controlling Speed
Ease sails to slow the boat.
Stop completely head-to-wind.
Stop completely on a reach.
Speed up by trimming in sails and moving the tiller.
Controlling Heel
Maintain a flat boat using sail trim and body weight.
Demonstrate "Ease, Hike, Trim" in moderate winds.
Departures & Landings
Sail backward for three boat lengths.
Quickly transition from sailing backward to forward.
Sailing Backwards
Sail backward under mainsail power.
Transition quickly back to forward sailing.
Phase 2 Sailing Skills
Adjust body position, tiller, and mainsheet.
Steer using tiller/tiller extension.
Avoid collisions ("Tiller Towards Trouble").
Using Telltales
Name three telltale locations.
Adjust course and sail trim based on telltales.
Points of Sail
Identify all points of sail and their sail trim/degrees from wind.
Demonstrate all points of sail with proper trim.
Upwind & Downwind Sailing
Hold a close-hauled course.
Tack three times upwind.
Hold a broad reach course.
Jibe three times downwind.
Adjust blades (centerboard, daggerboard, or leeboard).
No Wind Kinetics
Quickly flatten the boat with body weight.
Demonstrate continuous rocking in no wind.
Sailing a Course
Sail around buoys.
Sail within a confined area.
Round a buoy without touching it.
Weather Awareness
Identify three signs of bad weather.
Identify basic cloud types.
Identify sea breeze vs. land breeze.
Water Awareness
Describe how current and tide affect course.
Differentiate between flood and ebb tide.
Identify boat draft location.
Read depths on a navigation chart.
Float Plan
Record weather forecast, current, and tide before sailing.
Navigation
Identify navigation aids (buoys, markers, hazards, etc.).
Read navigation charts.
Explain "Red-Right-Returning" for waterway entry/exit.
Rules of the Road
Identify right-of-way between:
Starboard vs. port sailboats.
Leeward vs. windward sailboats.
Overtaken vs. overtaking vessels.
Using a Compass
Identify intercardinal directions (NE, NW, SE, SW).
Read compass degrees (N=0, E=90, S=180, W=270, etc.).
Knots & Line Handling
Cow Hitch (Tie, undo, and give an example of its use).
Coiling (Coil and uncoil a line neatly).
Round Turn & Half Hitches (Tie, undo, and give an example).
Heaving & Receiving a Line (Demonstrate safe handling).
Sheet Bend (Tie, undo, and give an example).
Clove Hitch (Tie, undo, and give an example).
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A Portuguese Man o’ War (Physalia physalis) is a marine organism often mistaken for a jellyfish, but it’s actually a siphonophore—a colonial organism made up of specialized polyps that function together as a single creature.
Key Features:
Floating Gas-Filled Bladder: It has a translucent, blue, or purple gas-filled bladder (pneumatophore) that sits above the water, acting like a sail to catch the wind.
Long, Venomous Tentacles: Below the surface, it has tentacles that can extend up to 165 feet (50 meters), though they are usually around 30 feet (10 meters). These tentacles are covered in nematocysts that deliver a painful, venomous sting to prey and potential threats.
Drifting Lifestyle: The Man o’ War has no means of propulsion and moves with ocean currents and winds.
Danger to Humans:
The sting can be excruciatingly painful and sometimes dangerous, causing skin welts, allergic reactions, or even breathing difficulties in severe cases.
Tentacles can still sting even after being detached or washed up on the beach.
Where It’s Found:
Warm ocean waters, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Common in Florida, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
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Seaweed floating in the ocean is most commonly referred to as Sargassum; a type of brown algae that can form large, floating mats on the ocean surface, providing habitat for various marine life and often found in tropical and subtropical waters.
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Trust one another
Engage in unfiltered conflict around ideas
Commit to decisions and plans of action
Hold one another accountable for delivering against those plans
Focus on the achievement of the collective results
F.Y.I SYSTEM=SAILING+YOUTH+STEM
@healthylittlehavana, @careelementary, @damianpardod2, @coconutgroveelementary
Pictures, video and social media post by Moises Alfonso. Thank you Mo!
It’s a win-win
Thank you to our incredible volunteers, students, teachers, parents, caregivers, and generous benefactors for helping make my dream a reality. ❤️
NEXT LEVEL HOMEWORK
Consider this homework. I’m urging the NEXT LEVEL sailors to scroll to the bottom of the page and study what‘s there. From now on, we must line up together every Saturday we sail. What else? Oh yes, what are the five dysfunctions of a Team? We will be quizzing you on it
LET’S HAVE FUN, BE SAFE AND LEARN A BUNCH
Lining up! This is what’s you should look like. Each boat is not overlapped, but at the very least, they are in the same picture frame, the sails are trimmed correctly and they are all pointing in somewhat the same direction. Let's do it!
Encourage your sailor to learn more, and please visit our online classroom. https://www.teamparadise.org/classroom and https://www.teamparadise.org/next-level-coaching
Checkout our new boats!
Visit our 2025 RS FEST MIAMI BLOG