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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 the pleasure of hosting 20 corporate guests from Aviation ISAC, a global nonprofit dedicated to cybersecurity in the aviation industry. The weather forecast called for southwesterly winds around 5 kn, which is the lower limit for keelboat sailing. With only four hours to complete the program in marginal sailing conditions, I was pleased that we had chosen the Racing Excursion format, instead of the 3-race Regatta format. The Racing Excursion is designed to be more flexible in its course configuration, allowing us to generate apparent wind that produces……
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….
Coming down the street now, look out for the “TEAM PARADISE SAILING DEFENDERS OF THE BAY! They have one simple rule: “Don’t join the crew unless you’re ready to defend the blue!” Their motto is Fun, Safe, and Learning, but don’t let that fool you -- they are serious about protecting our waters.
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.
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.
Our Thursday Sailing program offers a vital therapeutic experience for our veterans and first responders. The proverb, "You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails," could not be truer. For our participants, the destination matters, but the journey—finding a smooth, soothing course—matters just as much…..
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 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!
A great big thank you to our incredible volunteers and staff members for their dedication in making this event a success. Last but not least, a heartfelt thank you to the event planners and NexPhase for choosing Miami and Team Paradise to bring their vision of an exciting team-building event to life.
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….
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….
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!
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.
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.
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….
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…
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.
Despite a lengthy weather delay, we delivered on Fun-Safe-Learnin. Here is why: Our two-in-one STEM teacher, coach JD, taught a lesson in knot tying. She had prepared for the lesson by making a device for each student to practice their new skills. The student engagement was 99%.
Marshall McCann, the UofM sailing coach, filled in for coach Josh ….
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…
As usual, we do sailing for Veterans and First Responders on Thursdays. For many years, Team Paradise has participated in Coral Reef Yacht Club’s (CRYC) celebration of Fleet Week. Fleet Week Miami is a vibrant maritime celebration that brings U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ships to the Port of Miami and Fort Lauderdale for a week of public engagement, ship tours, and community events. CRYC offers a big breakfast in the early morning, followed by activities such as fishing, boating, e-foiling, and sailing for our men and women in uniform. Most everyone visits one of the historic homes in Stiltsville, which a member of the CRYC club owns. I had the pleasure of taking a group of three extraordinary individuals on a sail aboard one of our Sonar to Stiltsville….
It was another windy day on the Bay. The weather forecast called for Easterly wind, 20-25 knots, diminishing in the afternoon, but then picking up again in the evening. We decided to use both our RS Tera and RS Venture. The teams were divided up and assigned to our various vessels. Coach Josh did a rigging demo of the RS Tera for everyone to see. TJ and Ale were the first students to sail the new boats. I made them reef the sails by simply wrapping the sails around the mast a few times. At first, they objected to the idea, but they agreed that it might be a good idea. The reefing process took under 60 seconds to complete..
As you will see, today was a picture-perfect day. With northerly wind of 5 to 10 knots, clear skies, and even clearer water, we didn’t have to sail very far. We dropped the anchor a stone's throw away from Mercy Hospital. The sea state was flat, the wind puffy, sometimes calm, and other times windy. From here, we would try out our different equipment and enjoy one another’s company. As I was hoping, our new RS Tera was a hit! Check out Kenny, Jonathan, TJ, and Coach Josh sailing it. I bet that others will surely follow! Today qualifies as one of the best days ever! How about that?
Tight racing on Biscayne Bay saw fierce competition, with just one point separating the winner from the runner-up. During our four-hour corporate team-building regatta, Siemens teams embraced the challenge, enjoying an exhilarating and unforgettable sailboat racing experience. We had seven boats, 23 corporate guests, and a team of 11 staff members facilitating the event. As most often, the weather conditions were favorable. The wind was at an ideal velocity, allowing maximum guest engagement. We aim to promote teamwork….
After a month-long break, we were thrilled to welcome our students back today. Almost everyone returned for the spring session—and while we lost one student, we gained four new ones. The program is growing, and that’s always exciting.
Taking a month off might sound like a good idea, but I’m not so sure. Skills get rusty when we don’t practice regularly. Twice a week would be ideal, but for now, we’ve settled on once a week.
We are stoked about the latest addition to our fleet inventory. We bought two of the RS Tera charter boats. They were brand new at the beginning of this event. The RS Tera will complement our RS Venture and RS Feva significantly. Some of the features work perfectly for us. When done sailing, or hanging out at the sandbar, wrap the sail around the mast, and it could sit there all day. If the wind picks up more than desired, leave a few wraps before hooking up the outhaul and sailing back to port. If you like, take the shortcut; the Tera draft is only 0.8m. How about that?
As usual, the day started on the second-floor breezeway and in the classroom. We then filled up our boats and headed out sailing on Biscayne Bay. Once again, we return to the Sister Banks next to the Vizcaya Museum. The NEXT LEVEL kids kept sailing the entire time, and several SYSTEM kids joined them. To sum it up, we have been saving our best for last. The picture and video below will tell the whole story.
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….