Mission.  SFS is dedicated to recycling sails donated in the U.S. by providing them to subsistence fishermen of Haiti.  SFS partners with trusted community organizations in each village to ensure reliable, equitable sail distribution.

Although our mission is global, most of the process occurs locally.  Volunteer SFS sail collectors throughout the country raise awareness among their local sailing community through traditional methods of outreach-approaching sailing schools, speaking at regattas, announcements in yacht club newsletters, etc.  Learn more about becoming a volunteer sail collector.

Once a collector’s cargo has reached critical mass, SFS connects them with a volunteer driver (typically sailors trailering a boat to Miami for a regatta) who is able to transport the sails to SFS headquarters in Miami, FL.  Learn more about becoming a volunteer driver.

Sails are flaked, rolled, and bagged at HQ in Miami.

Prior to being shipped to Haiti, all sails are inventoried and cataloged with respect to condition, material, size, type, etc. SFS can link every sail from donor to recipient community.

History.  In early 2006, Michael Carcaise and Michael Laas were university students preparing to embark on a trip to Haiti with Project Medishare to gather data for an engineering project.  Carcaise was reading an article written by Arthur Fourner, M.D. in which he describes the handmade boats of a remote fishing village, and the importance of the practice of fishing to impoverished coastal communities.  The Project Medishare program coordinator at the time, Jennifer MacCormack, suggested the village of Abricots (where she had served her Peace Corps tour) as the first recipient community.  The first load of 14 sails was sent in March of 2006, and consisted of, among others, Laser II, Sonar, and Hobie catamaran sails (one of which can be seen in the website’s banner photo).

Since that time, SFS has sent more than 90 sails to the villages of Abricots, Grand Sable, Bon Bon, and Dame Marie.  Read more about these villages and our partners here.  The donated sails require far less maintenance than those they replace, and allow fishermen to more easily reach speeds critical to trawling for certain fish species.

Michael Carcaise, SFS Co-Founder, also serves as a risk manager and claims handler for two small medical malpractice insurance companies based in Coral Gables, FL.  He is a former officer of the University Miami Sailing Team.  Michael has crewed in the BBYRA series on Tom Seghi’s Henderson 30 and Melges 24, and is currently open to new crewing opportunities.

Michael Laas, SFS Co-Founder, grew up in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Puerto Rico and the United States.  After graduating from the University of Miami (UM) with a BS and MS in Civil/Environmental Engineer he began working at one of Miami’s top civil engineering firms. Michael began sailing at UM, later becoming president of the University of Miami’s sailing club, and has continued sailing through the BBYRA racing circuit in Miami.

James Remeika, SFS Field Director, is currently a student and Co-Captain of the Sailing Team at the University of Miami.  In his role with SFS, James draws upon his experience in political campaign field operations.  James currently sails FJs and 420s around the Southeast US, and tries to crew on bigger boats in Miami as much as possible on the weekends.

Brad Maier, SFS Technical Director, is an entrepreneur and internet consultant based in Chicago.  Brad, a former collegiate track athlete, sailed for the University of Miami from 2004 to 2006.