Youth Sailing, STEM
Magnus Liljedahl
SYSTEM S12-E1

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.

SYSTEM S12-E1
Youth Sailing, STEM
Magnus Liljedahl
SYSTEM S11-E6

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.

SYSTEM S11-E6
Youth Sailing, STEM
Magnus Liljedahl
SYSTEM S11-E5

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.

SYSTEM S11-E5
Youth Sailing, STEM
Magnus Liljedahl
SYSTEM S11-E4

What a Day!

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….

SYSTEM S11-E4
Youth Sailing, STEM
Magnus Liljedahl
SYSTEM S11-E3

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….

SYSTEM S11-E3
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SYSTEM S11-E2

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SYSTEM S11-E2

Team Paradise picked up where we left off at the King Mango Strut. Today, we cleaned Paradise Island 305 to prove a point. We are the Defenders of Biscayne Bay!

Before we began the cleanup, we lined up for a photo. It’s a valuable sailing skill that will eventually lead to a sailboat race. It’s all about awareness of time and distance, forward progress, and how your boat moves compared to other boats. Are you on a parallel course, merging, or diverging? Adjust your sails accordingly. Trim the jib to perfection….

The Orange Bowl Regatta 2025

The Orange Bowl Regatta 2025

The true honor Sportsmanship Award belongs to those who embody its spirit. It is incredibly fitting that this year’s recipient is someone who finds genuine joy in helping a competitor succeed. That selfless perspective—having the ability to be happy for someone else—is the very definition of a champion. There were ten sailors nominated for the sportsmanship award. It’s a relatively low number, but much of that had to do with no wind and no racing for the first couple of days. Luckily, the wind picked up for the final two days.

Veterans Sailing 11/13, 2025

Veterans Sailing 11/13, 2025

THERAPEUTIC SAILING

Today, we had six veterans out on the water, sailing in two boats with Coach Ella and me.

The wind forecast called for northeasterly winds of 10 to 15 knots. We started the session by sailing on a long port tack towards the west point of Key Biscayne, then turned north towards downtown.

As it turned out, we ended up sailing directly underneath the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge. We made it all the way to Brickell without taking a single tack! I’m not a golfer, but this is precisely what a hole-in-one feels like when you’re sailing.

Veterans Sailing 10/23, 2025

Veterans Sailing 10/23, 2025

Our scenic float plan included a long port tack towards Stiltsville, then Nixon’s Beach and Hurricane Harbor. On our way back, we sailed past Nixon’s Helicopter platform and other landmarks, such as the home featured in the movie Scarface and the Key Biscayne West Point. The sail home across the Bay was beautiful. We docked as scheduled at 2 PM. We continued our event on the second-floor breezeway of the US Sailing Center with some healthy snacks and refreshments. Time flies when having fun!

Veterans Sailing 10/16, 2025

Veterans Sailing 10/16, 2025

Veterans Sailing is back, and the enthusiasm is infectious! After a long stretch, we're finally seeing a spark of excitement that hasn't been this bright since before COVID.

We originally had six veterans signed up for this week's outing, planning to use two boats. As it turned out, we had a perfect four-person crew make it out onto the water in one boat, and what a session it was!

Safety at Sea

Safety at Sea

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….

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USSC-City of Miami Parks Sailing 2025 Week-2

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USSC-City of Miami Parks Sailing 2025 Week-2

Week two of SummerCamp was a huge success, packed with just as much adventure as the first! Our mission was to provide a safe, fun, and educational experience, and that's exactly what we did.

For most of our campers, it was their very first time exploring the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay. To ensure everyone felt comfortable and secure, we kept our adventures close to shore and away from heavy boat traffic. Our special propeller-less safety boat, equipped with a big awning, was a huge hit, providing a cool and shaded spot to relax and take in the sights….

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USSC-City of Miami Parks Sailing 2025 Week-1

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USSC-City of Miami Parks Sailing 2025 Week-1

Team Paradise is thrilled to be delivering the ultimate Sailing Summer Camp, on behalf of the US Sailing Center Miami (USSC)! Get ready, because starting July 21st, we're welcoming kids from twelve different parks across the City of Miami. For the next couple of weeks, each day will bring new groups of excited campers from selected city parks. By the time it's all said and done, we'll have had the pleasure of hosting approximately 150 young sailors as they discover the thrill of being out on the water!

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

Mistakes are part of the learning process. They’re not only allowed—they’re expected. As long as no one gets hurt and no serious harm is done, an occasional misstep is okay. What matters most is that we don’t keep repeating the same ones.

Please keep reading to refresh or learn a few things that are easy to forget when we’re caught up in the action. In sailing, and in life, it’s simple to lose sight of what truly matters.

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SYSTEM S9-E8

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SYSTEM S9-E8

Today marked the grand finale of Season 9—Session 8—and what a way to close out the season! We welcomed 25 enthusiastic kids, supported by nine dedicated coaches, for one last unforgettable day on the water. With rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, we made the smart call to sail early, giving us plenty of time to wrap up on shore and prepare for our much-anticipated closing ceremony.

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SYSTEM S9-E7

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SYSTEM S9-E7

Today was ideal for our group—the forecast called for south winds, 5 to 10 knots with a light chop. Our coaching staff, Ella, Marite, Justine, David, and Mo, made everything a breeze. Congratulations to Ella for becoming an L-3 certified youth coach. That’s what’s needed to run the show. Ella is adjusting quickly! Coach David noticed and commented as I passed the clipboard to Ella. My act is a milestone in our evolution. We are what our name says, we are….

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SYSTEM S9-E6

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SYSTEM S9-E6

Our harbor is under remodeling. A massive barge with a gigantic crane partially blocks the entrance, and all the docks are being replaced. What used to be our welcoming waterfront is now a jagged edge of rocks and murky water. Our facility is bustling with activity, but without a control tower or central coordinator, boats come and go, and everyone is doing their best to stay out of each other’s way. The wind was gusting hard out of the southeast at about 20 knots…

Fitch Solutions CORPORATE REGATTA

Fitch Solutions CORPORATE REGATTA

Corporate Regatta: Team Building on Biscayne Bay with Fitch Solutions
Team Paradise hosted an unforgettable corporate team-building event for Fitch Solutions on Biscayne Bay. Five teams competed in a high-energy regatta, guided by professional sailors. Team Gary dominated the course with a clean hat trick—three wins in a row. From strategic teamwork on the water to a relaxed debrief at Coral Reef Yacht Club, this regatta proved that leadership and collaboration thrive best when the sails are up.

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SYSTEM S9-E4

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SYSTEM S9-E4

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…