Today was the first lesson of the Spring session. Except for a couple of the kids, none had sailed since the end of the Winter session on February 21 st. That is way too long. We all become “rusty” if we don’t sail on a regular basis. Once a week is not enough, but that is all we have, so we make the most of it. A small craft advisory was in effect, and we estimated the wind at about 15-20 mph. Coach Ella was prepared with various land drills, but we decided to go sailing instead and headed out through the Seaplane Channel.
With the Olympic opréning ceremony taking place in Italy last night, hosting our own Olympic Day was a great idea. The classroom was decorated with Olympic memorabilia. Olympian Nikki Barnes and her crew, Ryan, and coach Pat Downey were in attendance. giving motivational speeches to all of us.
Another cold front was supposed to descend on us today. It would bring rain, thunderstoms and windy conditions. It was suggested that we may need to cancel the day before. Looking at the weather radar this morning, it didn’t look good. The SYSTEM sailors stayed inside the classroom doing lab work, while our Next Level sailors did chalk talks and some land drills.
Today was a very good day, perhaps the best day we ever had in our youth sailing program. I know, it's a big statement. We have had many good days before, and I can't remember ever having a really bad day. What made today so extra special was, in no particular order: watching kids who had never skippered a boat before now wanting to sail singlehanded or with any number of crew; and the camaraderie between the kids and the coaches: By now, the coaches are basically our best friends. Susan, our Executive Director, called for a debrief at the end of the day. We all need to stay on top of our certifications, such as Red Cross, SafeSport, and US Sailing; Team Paradise is the only Accredited Community Sailing Program on Biscayne Bay. We are honored to be in the position we are in, and we care about protecting….
Despite the lack of wind and cooler temperatures both in the air and water, Team Paradise delivered on a safe and fun-filled day, both on land and on the water. While waiting for the wind to pick up, Coach Ella and Coach Justine had the Next Level sailors teach the SYSTEM kids about the Thin Ice Challenge while the volunteers prepared and launched the sailboats. Eventually, we towed out behind our Boston Whaler and our propeller-less safety boat….
Today, we had three veterans out sailing Captain Ed was in command as usual. They did an awsome docking upon their return to the dock. I witnessed it through my camera lens. Fantastic! See for yourself; view the pictures and video below.
Also, see the information about why and how to join us for our next sail on February 22.
Today, we had two new veterans in our weekly Thursday Sailing program. In all, we had one Sonar sailing with a crew of five Veterans aboard. The wind and weather were perfect for our sport. The wind dropped as they sailed along, but they returned to port as planned at 2 PM. The event was delayed because of an 18-wheeler Coca-Cola delivery truck accident on I-95. Some veterans travel a long distance to be a part of our sailing. We appreciate their effort and are humbled by the fact.
For veterans with disabilities, sailing is used as a holistic therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. Sailing can even have long-term effects on veterans who struggle with these ailments and help to improve their overall quality of life. Being on the water promotes a healthy and active body, but did you know studies show that outdoor activities can help with various mental health issues? Sailing is an activity that….
For veterans with disabilities, sailing is used as a holistic therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. Sailing can even have long-term effects on veterans who struggle with these ailments and help to improve their overall quality of life. Being on the water promotes a healthy and active body, but did you know studies show that outdoor activities can help with various mental health issues? Sailing is an activity that….
Our first Thursday Sail in 2024 had four veterans from the Miami VA. Sailing on Biscayne Bay aboard one of our Sonar. The vessel was commanded by Captain Ed, who is also a veteran. Yours truly had another Sonar sailing with students from our adult sailing school. We eventually meet in the Biscayne Channel, which connects Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. We ended up there mainly because of the scenic experience that Stilltsville provides. Another reason was the wind conditions. The brisk, northerly wind provided good boat speed and a favorable point of sail. Both boats covered a lot of distance within the allotted three-hour timeline…
To me, every day is special. Today, we had four veterans and one volunteer sailing in one of our Sonars. We noticed a Pelican sitting next to the boat as we approached it. Something was wrong because the bird did not move. My first thought was to call somebody. Suddenly, one of the veterans said, “No worries, I’m a veterinarian!” She asked me to run and get some big towels, and I did. When I returned, the bird was gone. Our veterinarian veteran had realized that one of its legs had an old fishing line wrapped around it. As soon as she had cut her loose, the pelican jumped into the water and swam away.
Our team for the day went sailing, and everyone had a go at the helm. After returning to port, they all lowered and rolled up the sails, washed the boat, retrieved it, and put it back on the trailer. The debriefing that followed lasted over an hour. The group bonded exceptionally well in a very short time.
The Miami VA Hospital brings us new Veterans one Thursday per month. Today we made four new friends! In total, we had six veterans. Only a couple of them had sailed before. My “brother” Ed is one of them, and he is a good sailor. Ed and I divided the group into two teams. It was a windy day, so we went out with mainsails only. The bay was choppy, so we stayed close to shore to avoid splashing the crew too much. Our path took us around the sunken Bertram east of Grove Isle towards the Viscaya and the Little Island. We continued southward along the shore past Mercy Hospital to Grove Isle. The second part of our excursion took us through the mooring fields towards Coral Gables Waterway. We returned to port through the Brennan Channel and tacked through the Dinner Key Marina to the US Sailing Center….
It was an exhilarating two-hour sailing experience. It was a windy day, somewhere between 17 and 23 knots. We covered a great distance but only spotted a couple of other boats out there. Our voyage took us across the Bay toward the West Point of Key Biscayne, onward into Hurricane Harbour, around Nixon’s Beach, and finally, an awesome reach back to the US Sailing Center in Coconut Grove. Throughout the sail, we chatted away, getting to know each other. Sailing is perfect for expanding comradery!
Yours truly could not be more pleased. For the second week in a row, I let my friends take the boat out by themselves. It’s been light air and perfect conditions to let go. It’s about😃 time! No more Magnus aboard, barking out orders, telling them what to do! They are eager to build their confidence and become good sailors. The sky is the limit!
Growing a program organically to me is when gravity works to your advantage. “Things” simply come together without a lot of effort, just like our Veterans Sailing Program. No advertising is necessary. As explained in the previous blog, Dreams Come Through, we do not mind keeping it small for now.
Great sailing today! Captain Bob, gave really good sailing lessons to a couple of Veterans. The other boat was skippered by Guy Siegel, who had his family members aboard. Yours truly launched the coach boat and went out to take pictures (see below). Guy’s team was also practicing docking the boat, several times. It can be a bit intimidating, especially when there is a lot of boat and traffic.
Great sailing today! Captain Bob, gave really good sailing lessons to a couple of Veterans. The other boat was skippered by Guy Siegel, who had his family members aboard. Yours truly launched the coach boat and went out to take pictures (see below). Guy’s team was also practicing docking the boat, several times. It can be a bit intimidating, especially when there is a lot of boat and traffic.
Today was a great day for sailing. The breeze was up, partly cloudy, a couple of nice Sonar sailboats with nothing but wonderful people aboard. Captain Bob, our senior sailing instructor, gave lessons to a couple of veterans and a first responder. The other boat had a veteran, a veteran’s family member, and yours truly aboard as a coach and navigator.
Nice to have our regular Veterans Sailing Program back up and running again! Nine Veterans, two Veteran’s family members, and three fantastic volunteers participated. One of the volunteers is a ret. Coastguard Captain and also our senior sailing instructor. Do you know who that is? Anyway, he was busy giving the final on-the-water test for the sailing instructor certification course. The student is one of our local Veterans!
The Crew consisted of Duane Smith, Lanita Soleil, and Nehemiah Cook, all disabled Veterans. Also onboard was Charles Nethersole, a veteran of the British Navy and a world-class sailor. Duane has been sailing with us for several years and he has come a long way. Duane is a certified Basic Keelboat instructor. He helps Team Paradise by teaching sailing, not only to Veterans but to all students. He also heads up our Thursday Veterans Sailing, which has solid attendance.
Team Paradise located at the US Sailing Center invited my husband, an Operation Iraqi Freedom, myself, an Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and another disabled combat veteran to participate in the Columbus Day Regatta in Coconut Grove, Florida. As a former Navy Sailor there is nothing more joyful than the sound and feel of ocean water. The lovely sound of thundering waves puts me into a deeply relaxed mindset. Although we had some weather building on the horizon the sun came out and it made me feel so incredibly good. While we were racing at high rates of speed, working as a four-person team to control the sailboat I found myself awestruck and incessantly looking at nature in its purest form and its most profound and beautiful forms, being at sea and in nature always seems like it enhances my mindfulness and boosts my physical well-being. Team Paradise allowed me a day away from my regular activities and daily struggles and it created a positive impact on my happiness. Thank-you Team Paradise! Lanita Oceanne Soleil
We are so thankful for the support we receive each year. Your generous donations help us build on our existing infrastructure of diversity, equity and inclusion in the sport of sailing. We recognize that part of our role as a community sailing organization is to lift up all voices in the sport and provide a welcome and inclusive environment for all.
We couldn’t be more excited about the challenges ahead and the increasing opportunities to help others and do better. With the support of our community, Team Paradise has managed to deliver on its mission for the past 15 years, having proven itself many times over. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
