Three boats under the causeway!
Thursday, June 11th, 2026
Our sailing program for veterans and first responders brought another amazing day of learning and connection to Biscayne Bay. Bringing together returning teammates with new families, it is beyond rewarding to see how sailing makes an impact on our community. And today, we brought our sailors to the heart of downtown Miami!
We had nine sailors head out on two Sonars, with a third for a single adult sailing lesson meeting us later in the afternoon, making it three boats together on the Bay. Our bearing was Rickenbacker Causeway, with a pleasant upwind journey and time to practice some tacks for our team leaders. While it was a hot day in the sun, we made sure to stay hydrated - one sailor even brought a portable fan to give some relief in the downwind portion of sailing!
Once all boats were together, we made our way under Rickenbacker Causeway to explore Brickell’s skyline. Great job, Ronnie, for taking the helm under the bridge with ease. It’s always an amazing day getting to see Miami from a different perspective.
The biggest challenge of the day was the boat traffic on the other side of the causeway. Many large powerboats and yachts were active in the channel, and it was good practice to stay together as a group and follow the channel markers.
Our sail home was a quick downwind journey, with our Sonars being able to cut through the marina as it was high tide. Sailors did a fantastic job staying engaged and constantly watching the telltales on the jib to spot any adjustments that needed to be made.
Interview with veterans Ronnie and Vanessa
Ella: “How have your Thursdays changed in the past couple of months since starting sailing?”
Ronnie: “Are you kidding me? This is the best way to spend a Thursday in Miami. We're on the water, we're with friends, we're having a great time. How could it be better?”
Vanessa: “I’ve never done anything like this, and it's really gotten me out of my funk.”
R: “How can you be in a funk like this?”
E: “What do you feel like has been the biggest thing you've learned from being able to sail every Thursday?”
R: “We have a great sense of community. We have a lot of great people who work together who have teamwork and commitment.”
V: “Being able to get out here, getting this sunshine, and meeting people. Learning how to sail.”
R: “Being on the water and being with you!”
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