Enthusiasm - a key ingredient to success
Our 2023 Summer Camp is completed! Each of the four weeks was great, but it’s fair to say that we saved the best for last. This group became smaller as a couple of siblings tested positive for Covid before the week began. Some of the campers attended all 4-weeks. Newbies to our program had never sailed, but they caught on quickly and blended in with our team in a big way. It’s rewarding when the campers develop friendships with each other, and based on how my life turned out, it could last forever.
Furthermore, similar to having success in sailboat racing, we keep tweaking our equipment and protocols, which ultimately pays excellent dividends.
Everyone on our staff was impressive! Ed, Mo, Jian, Gregg, and Gavin are fantastic individuals. So is my dear wife Susan, the driver of the desk, who perfectly covers for my lack of skills in certain areas. I could not be more grateful for their enthusiasm, efforts, and abilities. They are the core of our program!
The MVP award goes to Coach Ed! His tireless effort, people skills, lifeguard skills, and being a certified scuba instructor make him a valuable team member. He often used his mask, snorkel, and fins, providing a lot of comfort for everyone.
Group shoot on the first day of camp
Day 1 - West Point Key Biscayne
The weather forecast called for South winds of 5 to 10 kt. and Bay waters with a light chop. Excellent conditions for sailing to Key Biscayne! Our destination is a perfect ten, with a large sandbar and the cleanest water in our area. Our mascot and grandkid, Teddy, was back, and so was G-ma Susan.
Day 2 - South of Grove Isle
The weather forecast called for S-E winds of 5 to 10 kt. and Bay waters with a light chop. We stayed close to home and anchored just north of the Seaplane Channel. The area has large patches of sandy bottom and clear water about 5 feet deep. The kids did a bunch of capsizing drills, which is a must for the new campers in attendance. Coach Ed was on hand with a mask, snorkel, and fins.
Day 3 - South of Grove Isle
The weather forecast called for E SE winds of 5 to 10 kt. and Bay water with a light chop. There was a chance of showers and thunderstorms. We decided to stay close to home. There is no reason to sail further away other than for a change of pace and scenery. We had pinged our location on the previous day. We dropped the anchor at 25°43.767’N and 080°13.128’W, a bit further north and away from the Seaplane Channel. The kids wanted five RS Fevas to play Pirates vs. Navy for the day. The Pirates chase the Navy and try to capsize their boat. Lots of fun!
Day 4 - South of Grove Isle
No reason to go anywhere else. The weather forecast called for SE winds of 5 to 10 kt—Bay waters with a light chop and a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. We dropped anchor at 25°43.751’N and 080°13.129’W. Again, the campers wanted the 5 RS Fevas, and they came to play!
Day 5 - South of the Dinner Key Channel
The weather forecast for the day was similar to Day-4 with SE winds of 5 to 10 kt—Bay waters with a light chop and a chance of showers and thunderstorms. The morning was calm. Gregg and Gavin had previous commitments for the day, and so did Mo. We towed out a couple of RS Fevas and one RS Venture in search of wind and anchored up just south of the Dinner Key Channel, 25°42.918’N and 080°13.196’W to be exact. The Seabreeze filled in for a while but never really organized. We moved our location even closer to home as Thunderstorms threatened and anchored up at Paradise 305, but we didn’t stay for long.
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Next Up: City Sailing with Miami Parks and the US Sailing Center
Weekdays from July 24 to August 4