ESA REPORT 2024-2025 by makethemsailors

Five years on Eleuthera… and what a journey it has been.

Alongtheway,ESAhasbecomeameetingplace whereBahamians,secondhomeowners,volunteers,families,andvisitorssharethesameocean,learnfrom oneanother,anddiscoverthebeautyofSavannahSound.Throughthisschool, peoplehavereconnectedwithEleutheraandwiththeseathatsurroundsus.

BuildinganythingonEleutherarequirespatience,grit,humor,andtherightpeopleby yourside Wehavesprintedforfiveyears nowit’stimetothinkaboutthe marathon.ESAhastheingredientstobecomeatrulysustainable,communitydriveninstitution:world-classconditions,passionateyouth,shareddedication,and agrowingnetworkofsupporters.

Ourhopeisclear:apermanenthomefortheEleutheraSailingAcademy a clubhouse,aworkspace,aplacethatbelongstotheislandandcontinuesshaping thenextgeneration.

Thankyoutoeveryonewhobelievedinthisvisionandhelpedusreachthispoint. Onwardandforward

Let’sMakeThemSailors!

CarlienPels&MartinManrique

at ESA

SaturdaymorningsatESAareallaboutchallengeandgrowth Thekidsrotate betweenOptimists,Hobies,andwindsurfers eachdemandingsomething differentfromthem.TheOptimistteachesprecisionandfocus.TheHobie pushesteamworkandcommunication.Thewindsurferbuildsresilience, balance,andconfidence

Onthewater,theylearntoreadwind,tide,andcurrent,developingareal connectionwithnature Theysetgoals,workontheirweaknesses,and celebratesmallimprovementsthatcomefrompersistence,notluck Whatstandsoutmostishowtheysupporteachother Astrongersailorhelps someonestruggling.Ashykidfindstheirvoiceencouragingafriend.They learnresponsibility,patience,teamwork,andprideineffort

Bytheendoftheday,theyleavetiredandproud notjustbettersailors,but stronger,moreconfidentyoungpeople.

SchoolPrograms CEIS ELEMENTARY LEARNING CENTER

WednesdaymorningsattheElementaryLearningCenterarepuremagic Eachweek, ESAbringsboats,sails,andasparkofadventuretoCapeEleuthera Atfirst,thekids hesitate feartuggingatthemasmuchasthewindintheirsails Butwith encouragement,theypushoff,discovercontrol,andbegintoseefearaspartofthe fun.

Soonlaughtertakesover.They’re steering,hikingout,evencapsizing withconfidence.AsHaileyputit:

“I really liked learning how to sail I liked how the breeze hits you and you kinda float with the sea creatures ”

“You don’t have to be scared if you ’ re going out into the water you can push yourself out of your comfort zone sometimes Once me and Michael were in the boat and it was very flat, and we were able to steer to meet the bow of another boat and sail together ”

Bytheend,thesamekidswhowere nervoustolauncharebeggingfor moretimeonthewater

SchoolPrograms

CEIS ELEMENTARY LEARNING CENTER

ForIslandSchoolstaffmemberandELCinstructorHannahMurphy,watching kidsdiscoversailinghasbeenajoyinitself “Watchingthemconnectwith nature,buildconfidence,andfindsomuchjoyouttherehasbeenoneofthe mostrewardingparts,”shesays.Overtheseason,she’sseenstudentsgrow comfortableonthewaterandfallinlovewiththeocean

Hannahbelievessailingaddssomethinguniquetoeducation:“Itteacheslife skillsyoucan’talwaysgetinaclassroom.Whenstudentspushthemselves outsidetheircomfortzones,theybuildconfidence,resilience,andteamwork.It alsogivesthemawholenewperspective seeingtheworldfromthesea deepenstheirconnectiontotheenvironment”

HerstandoutmomentcameattheRockSoundHomecomingRegatta: “Hostingsomanykidswasablast Seeingsomanynewfacestrysailingfor thefirsttimebroughtmebacktomyownfirstexperienceandremindedme howspecialitistofallinlovewiththesport.”

SchoolPrograms deep creek middle school

TheDeepCreekMiddleSchoolGroup bringsajoyandenthusiasmtothe EleutheraSailingAcademyevery Thursdayafternoon

Asthe8thgradersdiveintotheworldof sailingandwindsurfingatSavannah Sound,it’sheartwarmingtowitnesstheir transformationfromnervousbeginnersto confidentsailors

Whentheyfirststepontothewater,fear ofthesand,grass,orwhatever“monsters” theyimaginelurkinginthecrystal-clear depthsholdsthemback Theymove cautiously,hesitanttotryanythingnew. Butgradually,theystarttoloosenup, rediscoveringthejoyofplayandgaining confidence Soon,they’reyellingfortheir t h f i d t t hth

Wellington Prep fromSpanishWells

ForAshley,ateacherfromSpanishWells,theweeklytriptoSavannah Soundisnosmalleffort butit’swortheverymile.“Themomentwearrive andclassbegins anyhardshipmeltsaway Theexcitement rapidlearning

SAILING CAMPS Eleuthera

SAILING CAMPS

ThisMay,wehostedourfirstcustom-designedsailingcamp,createdtogether withtheRybickiSymonettefamilyfromCanada.Foragroupofchildrenages7 to12,manysteppingontothewaterfortheveryfirsttime,awholenewworld opened.

TheylearnedtosteeranOptimist,feltthewindliftthemonawindsurfboard, searchedforhiddencluesinapiratetreasurehunt,andsailedaboardAvelinda allthewaytotheSchoonerCays adayofturquoisehorizonstheywillnever forget.Withthekindsupportofourvolunteers,AshleyandLane,everymoment becameanadventure

Thiscampshoweduswhatispossiblewhenimaginationmeetsthesea. Wearenowopeningthedoorforotherstodreamwithus Familiesandschoolscancreatetheirowntailoredcamp aweekshapedby curiosity,play,andthemagicoflearningontheocean

VOLUNTEERS

Thispastyear,ESAwasliftedbyapowerfulwaveofvolunteers sailorsandcoacheswhotraveledfromallovertheworldtogive back.Theirmotivationwassimpleandbeautiful:tosharewhat sailinghasgiventhem,andtobepartofthemagicunfoldinghere inEleuthera.

AmongthemwereAshleyandLane,tworemarkableyoungsailors fromMarblehead,Massachusetts.Fornearlyamonth,they coached,played,laughed,andsharedtheirpassionwithour Bahamiankids creatingbondsthatcrossedcultures,ages,and oceans.Theirvisitbroughtnewenergytoourprogramsandlefta markoneverychildtheytaught

And then something extraordinary happened. This summer, that connection came full circle....

FROM ELEUTHERA TO MARBLEHEAD

Eleuthera Warriors

International Regatta OPTIMIST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

This season, Eleuthera proudly sent two young sailors — Finley McKinneyLambert and Lorenzo Laramore — to represent The Bahamas at the Optimist World Championships in Mar del Plata, Argentina, one of the most demanding youth sailing events in the world.

Mar del Plata delivered its reputation: big waves, heavy breeze, and some of the toughest conditions international competitors will ever face. Yet our sailors rose to the challenge with heart, determination, and the confidence they’ve earned on the waters of Savannah Sound.

Now studying in Europe, Finley reflected on how far he has come:

"I feel that ESA has helped me massively in developing my skills as a sailor and as a human being From fine-tuning technical maneuvers in different conditions and being responsible for cleaning equipment to understanding what drives me in my life and how to control overwhelming emotions "

Despite the intensity of the event, Finley delivered another top-50 finish, closing his Optimist career on a high and showing the world the strength of Bahamian youth sailing

Lorenzo’s trip was a true community effort a reminder of how Eleuthera rallies behind its young people. Through local support and fundraising, he was able to travel, race, and gain exposure that will stay with him for life

It was his first time competing in a Spanish-speaking country, and he embraced every moment on and off the water Lorenzo’s spirit, joy, and sportsmanship made him one of the stars of the entire event, capturing hearts across teams and nations.

NationalChampionships

The2024NationalsinExuma markedaturningpointforESA,as manyofouroldersailorsageout oftheOptimistfleetandanew younggenerationbeginsits journey.Forourrisingsailors, competinginnewwatersand facingtoptalentfromacrossThe Bahamas alongwithastrong groupofU.S.sailors wasboth challengingandinspiring

Whiletheracingwasintense,the friendshipsformedacrossislands andclubswerejustasmeaningful Andinabeautifulfinale,Finley, sailinghislastOptimistregatta,was crownedNationalChampion Thankyoutoourfamilies,supporters, andcommunityforhelpingcreate theseunforgettablemoments.

sloop sailing

BahamianCulturalHeritage sloop sailing

TraditionalsloopsailingiswovenintotheidentityofTheBahamas aliving expressionofcraftsmanship,community,andthedeepconnection Bahamianssharewiththesea Itismorethansport;itisheritage Sloop regattasbringtogetherthebestsailorsfromeveryisland,celebratingskill, resilience,andprideinawaythatnoothereventcan Forouryoungsailors, steppingintothisworldmeanssteppingintotheheartofBahamianculture

Thisyear,ESAhadtheprivilegeofparticipatingonceagaininboththeSir DurwardKnowlesRegattaandtheNationalFamilyIslandRegatta,sailingon SugarLoafandwithborrowedboatsgenerouslyprovidedbyLarryBastian fromAndros.WebroughtalargeteamtoSDK,andasmallerbutmightyteam ofsixtoNFIR withLorenzoskipperingSugarLoafandDeja,Denee,and ChevyproudlyrepresentingESAastheonlyall-femalecrewaboardMama Together,theyfacedrealBahamianconditions,fiercecompetition,and unforgettablemomentsthatwillstaywiththemforlife.

WearedeeplygratefultoMinisterClaySweetingandhisteamfortheir ongoingsupport,andtotheRegattaDeskfortheircommitmenttoorganizing world-classeventsthatkeepthisremarkabletraditionalive Theirwork ensuresthatyoungBahamians regardlessofbackground havethe opportunitytostepintothisheritage,racealongsidethebestinthecountry, andfeelpartofsomethingbiggerthanthemselves.

Sloopsailingconnectspastandpresent

Andeachyear,oursailorsreturnhomecarryingitsspiritforward