Shake-A-Leg Miami’s Community Bay Day

“Captain Ned”, a long-time volunteer skipper at Shake-a-Leg, oversees the crew preparing up a sailboat for a day on the Bay. Photo by Kate Festa

The wind sprayed salty sea mist over the edge of the bright yellow sailboat, as the sun beat down upon the water on this perfect Sunday afternoon in Biscayne Bay. Tilted almost entirely on its side, it seemed as if wind and waves might cause the boat to capsize any second; still, the day remained beautiful, perfect even. It was the type of experience of which many only dream. But, yesterday, for hundreds of Coconut Grove residents, those dreams came true.

On Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., Shake-A-Leg Miami hosted its second successful Community Bay Day at its facility on South Bayshore Drive, welcoming all members of the Coconut Grove community to experience the thrill and beauty of Miami’s waterfront for themselves.

For a $5 suggested donation, guests enjoyed a fun-filled day of kayaking excursions, powerboat rides, and sailing adventures across Biscayne Bay — not to mention plenty of entertainment back on shore as well. Music pumped loudly across the full parking lot. Children and adults raced across the enclosed facility on bikes and scooters while others took turns attempting to “slam dunk” a ball into an inflatable basketball hoop. Others sat and socialized, enjoying free ice-cream cones.

Although Community Bay Day is only a monthly occurrence, Shake-A-Leg Miami keeps its doors open seven days a week, year-round. It is one of the largest community water sports centers in the country and one of the most accessible, offering a variety of programs in recreation and education for both children and adults — including those who face physical, developmental, or economic challenges.

At Shake-A-Leg, blind people sail boats, inner-city kids learn how to windsurf, and individuals missing entire limbs kayak to islands and embark on eco-adventures.

“I always let the kids steer,” said Captain Ned, himself, a volunteer skipper who has worked with Shake-A-Leg for the past 15 years. “If I have to, I put my hand on top of their hand, but they always steer.’’

It is the dedicated assistance of individuals like Ned that make events such as Community Bay Day even a possibility. Volunteers, both able-bodied and disabled, make up 90 percent of Shake-A-Leg’s staff and help with everything, from afterschool programs to boat cleanups. On Sunday, they loaded boats, led eco-tours and even flipped burgers.

Two of these newly-trained volunteers, Eric Erdvig, 24, and Carlos Garcell, 26, students at Florida International University, served as Able-Bodied, or “AB,” assistants on multiple sailing trips throughout the day. Both became involved with Shake-A-Leg through a campus organization at their school and were eager to return.

“We’re out here doing the groundwork today,” Erdvig said. “We’ll be back next week with more guys.”

Eric Erdvig, a newly-trained Shake-A-Leg volunteer from FIU adjusts the main sail as he sails back into port after a day on the Bay. Trips like these are offered for free at Shake-A-Leg's Community Bay Day. Photo by Kate Festa

It is exactly reactions such as these, which make Community Bay Day a success, according to Shake-A-Leg founder, Harry Horgan. “Our goal today is getting people down to get the story out,’’ he said.

Sharing the beauty and thrills of Biscayne Bay, empowering other in the process, after all, is the organization’s ultimate goal.

At 4 p.m., as the day’s festivities were about to end, Horgan prepared to set sail himself.

“You don’t have to belong to a yacht club to get on the water,” he said from his wheelchair at the end of the pier. “This is Miami-Dade County’s most valuable resource and, at Shake-A-Leg, we want to make it accessible to everyone.’’