Celebrating Veterans Day at US Sailing
Today US Sailing celebrates Veterans Day! On this Veterans Day, we honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country with courage and dedication. Their sacrifices, both on land and at sea, have paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today.
Throughout the country, there are many sailing programs that have special programs just for veterans of the armed forces. Check out some of the programs helping veterans access the water across the US:
Warrior Sailing – https://warriorsailing.org/
Warrior Sailing provides maritime education and outreach for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. They facilitate opportunities for skill development and build partnerships between the military and marine communities. Sailing is the platform to positively impact the physical and mental health of participants. Warrior Sailing reconnects veterans to the camaraderie and teamwork previously found in military service.
US Patriot Sailing – https://www.uspatriotsailing.org/
By providing opportunities for veterans to participate in sailing and other recreational activities, US PATRIOT Sailing plays a vital role in supporting the well-being and resilience of our Veterans.
Soldiers Under Sail at Hudson River Community Sailing (New York, NY) – https://hudsonsailing.org/veterans-programs/
Soldiers Under Sail is an adaptive sailing program designed specifically to make sailing accessible for our nation’s military veterans. This program is designed to both teach the fundamentals of sailing and give veterans of all branches of the U.S. military in the New York metropolitan area support to help make sailing a part of their lives.
Valhalla Sailing (Annapolis, MD) – https://www.valhallasailing.org/
Based in Annapolis, Maryland, their mission is simple: Through the sport of sailboat racing, they provide wounded, disabled and separating Veterans the sense of camaraderie that is missing from civilian life. They host clinics for veterans out of Eastport Yacht Club.
Team Paradise Sailing (Miami, FL) – https://www.teamparadise.org/adaptive-veterans-sailing
About Team Paradise: Make Sailing accessible for all! Transforming lives through the sport of sailing. Dedicated to changing lives by inspiring and empowering disabled and underserved communities, US Veterans, and others with recreational, educational, and healing programs through the sport of sailing. They have a Thursday Sailing program which runs from 10 AM to 2 PM. One Thursday per month is dedicated to Miami VA Hospital only. Veterans and First Responders are offered a 100% discount using coupon code SAIL-2024.
Sail to Prevail Veterans Program (Newport, RI) – https://sailtoprevail.org/newport/veterans-programs/
Sail To Prevail supports service members by providing or hosting programs specifically for Veterans with any type of disability (including but not limited to paraplegics, quadriplegics and amputees). Honoring men and women who have served our country in any military branch or era, Sail To Prevail partners with the following veteran organizations:
- Veterans Administration Sports Clinic
- Rhode Island Veterans Home
- Wounded Warriors
- New England Paralyzed Veterans of America
Recovering Wounded Warriors program at Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB) (Annapolis, MD) – https://crabsailing.org/adaptive-boating/sailing-programs/military-support-programs/
CRAB partners with other community support organizations, such as Paralyzed Veterans of America, Walter Reed and others dedicated to the service of recovering and disabled veterans to arrange group sails throughout the sailing season. CRAB hosts two Recovering Warrior Sailing Regattas scheduled in May and September. Each race provides a great opportunity to share and experience the thrill and freedom of sailing with family members, fellow warriors, and volunteers.
Oscar J. Tolmas Veteran Sailing Program at Community Sailing New Orleans (New Orleans, LA) – https://nolacommunitysailing.org/adaptive-sailing/#Veteran-Sailing
The Oscar J. Tolmas Veteran Sailing Program is provided free of charge to active military members and veterans who served in the armed forces, thanks to support from the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Participants learn the fundamentals of sailing as well as basic nomenclature, safety, knots, rigging, steering, how sails work, and the rules of the road. During each session, participants meet on Saturday and Sunday mornings for three weeks. Community Sailing New Orleans offers sailing clinics throughout the year in conjunction with our community partners who work and serve veterans, including the New Orleans VA and Bastion Community of Resilience.
West Michigan S.A.I.L (Western Michigan) – https://wmsail.com/
About West Michigan SAIL: At West Michigan SAIL, we believe that the power of the sea can heal wounded souls and rejuvenate spirits. That’s why we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of sailing courses exclusively for veterans. Our programs extend beyond the mere exploration of the open waters; they aim to empower veterans by providing them with skills, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose.
If you know of any other veterans’ programs that should be spotlighted, please send them to lexipline@ussailing.org.