From First Sail to Lifelong Passion

I was 12 when my godfather gave my cousin and me our first windsurfing ride on a Puerto Rican beach. Sitting on that board as the wind filled the sail and we began to glide—it was pure magic. I was hooked instantly.

My dad found an instructor, and once I learned to sail on my own, windsurfing became the center of my world. By my teens, I was teaching others and witnessing that same spark of discovery in their eyes. At 18, with my mother as my first investor, I opened Vela del Mar—"Sail of the Sea"—my first school at a local hotel.
 

Why AquaVela

The name honors two things that shaped me: Aqua for the sea—my mother's favorite color, the color of her eyes, and the element that gave me freedom. Vela for the sail—the tool that taught me independence, adventure, and self-discovery.
 

Our Mission Today

AquaVela exists to share that transformative experience with others. In a world where we're increasingly disconnected from nature and community, we offer something rare: a gathering place on the water where people learn, grow, and connect.

We're not just teaching windsurfing and watersports—we're creating a space where Orlando can experience adventure, build community, and rediscover the simple joy of harnessing the wind. Years after their first lesson, students tell us how windsurfing changed their perspective. That's what keeps us going: giving others the gift of freedom, one sail at a time.