Changing Veterans' Lives - One Sail at a Time

VetsBoats is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring health, well‑being, and community for military veterans and their families through mindfulness‑based sailing, hands‑on restoration, and shared maritime experiences.

Our purpose is to help veterans living with PTSD, traumatic injuries, addiction, and isolation move from withdrawal and hyper‑vigilance into connection, confidence, and renewed purpose. VetsBoats advances this mission through therapeutic sailing and peer camaraderie, delivered via a scalable nationwide network of chapters, affiliates, partner organizations, and community volunteers.

Our veteran‑led crews tackle PTSD, injury, addiction, and isolation by pairing on‑water intensity with peer camaraderie, helping participants move from withdrawal and hyper‑vigilance into connection, confidence, and renewed purpose.

We are building a nationwide network of chapters, affiliates, and member boats—anchored in local waters yet unified under common standards—that makes therapeutic sailing as recognizable and accessible as other mainstream veteran wellness services.

Through group voyages, training, and leadership pathways, VetsBoats acts as a connector and catalyst so that wherever there is a willing boat and a veteran in need, there is a trusted on‑ramp back to community and a life of meaning on the water.

Our Programs

Experiential
Sailing

Sail

Training

Restoration

& Events

"Thank you all so much for hosting our group during last Friday’s sailing outing. The Veterans had an exceptional experience, and we are truly grateful for the care, coordination, and heart your team put into making the day so meaningful. Despite the rain and drizzle, the energy on the dock and on the water was nothing short of inspiring. The way your team—Marty, Rita, Kevin, Fish, and everyone involved—worked together to create a smooth, welcoming, and engaging experience was evident from start to finish. The added use of the clubhouse was a wonderful upgrade that made the pre‑sail gathering feel even more inviting. The Veterans especially appreciated the warmth, expertise, and camaraderie that your crew brought to the day. Fish’s enthusiasm, storytelling, and deep knowledge of sailing and the Bay really stood out. The wildlife sightings were a huge highlight as well, adding a sense of wonder and adventure that the Veterans are still talking about.

"Thank you for going above and beyond—from the early communication and personalized outreach to the thoughtful setup, weather preparedness, and genuine connection with each participant. Experiences like this truly support healing, confidence-building, and community for Veterans, and we are deeply grateful to partner with an organization as dedicated and mission‑driven as VetsBoats.We look forward to continuing this collaboration throughout the 2026 season.
Thank you again for an unforgettable start to the year."

From a VA Recreational Therapist we Support every year

Reports & Newsletters

Open the 2025 Annual Report

Read our February '26 Newsletter!

View Our Blog Posts

Today we live amid a quiet emergency: thousands of post‑9/11 veterans are living with PTSD, addiction, and suicidal thoughts, often in isolation and without a clear path back to community. VetsBoats is part of a grassroots movement to change that trajectory—to raise awareness, offer tangible hope, and create spaces where veterans and their families can heal together on the water.

We work through trusted partners—VA recreation therapy teams, Veteran Service Organizations, and local Veteran Service Offices—to reach the veterans most at risk and ensure they can participate at no cost. Veterans can engage with VetsBoats as participants, volunteers, and community service contributors, while we help connect them back to the benefits and resources they have earned. Through ongoing sails, restoration projects, surveys, and regular outreach, we invite veterans back again and again to work, sail, and share the camaraderie that allows them to support and heal one another.