Sailing Art: Seven Poster Sails Head to Biscayne Bay

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival spent nearly $25,000 to build seven custom sails for Shake-A-Leg Miami, a collaboration unveiled on Oct. 29 along the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Each sail carries a different poster design from the festival's heritage collection, including artwork by Guy Harvey and Romero Britto.

The project, titled "Seven Sails for Seven Seas," provides equipment for seven 20-foot keelboats used in sailing instruction, vocational activities, and Community Bay Days. The sails measure approximately 8 feet along the foot, 20 feet along the mast, and 21 feet along the leech.

The idea began with CGAF Past Chairman David Hill Jr. and Board Member Jack Eads, who initiated the collaboration to connect the festival's art archive with Shake-A-Leg's work providing water access for people of all abilities. The initial plan to support sailing programs expanded into the current partnership.

Shake-A-Leg Miami, founded in 1990, operates from a historic 1932 seaplane hangar in Coconut Grove and serves more than 8,000 individuals annually. Its fleet includes 26 sailboats, 60 kayaks, and a safety fleet, with vessels modified to accommodate people with a wide range of disabilities.

For Shake-A-Leg co-founder and CEO Harry Horgan, the equipment arrived as the organization was planning a fundraising campaign for new gear. "This was turnkey, and right on time," Horgan said, noting that the boats require updated equipment to continue operating.

Horgan connects the program to public health and access to nature, stating that sailing offers a feeling of freedom. "Biscayne Bay is one of the greatest parks available, and we are a natural gateway," he said.

CGAF Board Chairwoman Pamela Mayer described the contribution as a natural partnership between two organizations rooted in Coconut Grove. "These sails bring compelling festival art onto the bay while helping Shake-A-Leg Miami continue its work," she said.

The festival's philanthropic work includes scholarships for young artists and a $10,000 grant to Comic Kids. Funding for these programs comes from festival proceeds and public donations, including gifts made through the Miami Foundation's Give Miami Day on Nov. 19.

The next Coconut Grove Arts Festival is scheduled for Feb. 13-15, 2027, featuring 285 juried artists along Coconut Grove's bayfront streets. Early discussions between the two organizations have also explored adding art activities to Shake-A-Leg's programs.