Saltwater Veterans

MANLY | Awesome to share a sail with long-time supporter and friend of SVSP, from Young Veterans. 💛⚓️💙

Why this matters

have been strong supporters of SVSP since our foundation days. Their encouragement, advice, and willingness to back what we were trying to build helped us keep moving forward during the challenging early years.

They also reinforced an important lesson for us — that when one organisation helps another, the positive impact flows far beyond the initial act of support.

That experience inspired us to keep the karma rolling forward and look for opportunities to support other veteran organisations, including wherever we can.

Veterans supporting veterans. Organisations supporting organisations. Stronger together.

VeteranCommunity

SYDNEY | I’ve been finding a real sense of mindfulness in single-handed sailing SALT-E-7.

One-up, on a boat designed for a crew, is challenging me in focus, balance, complexity and competing priorities.

There’s something pretty powerful about having to slow the mind down, stay present, and work through each decision — trim, helm, breeze, traffic, safety, timing — one step at a time.

For me, this is where my sailing becomes more than just sailing.

It becomes connection, confidence, problem-solving and wellbeing on the water.

Gratitude to for 📸 on a passing Sydney ferry - impeccable timing!

Stay Salty 💛⚓️💙

YOUR NEXT SAILS 💛⚓️💙

Sydney | Melbourne | Sunny Coast | Newcastle | Lake Macquarie

We’ve got Saltwater Veterans sailing opportunities coming up across the country — jump on, connect with the crew, and get on the water.

Register here:
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/svsp/events

MIDDLE HARBOUR | Sail Her Way 💛⚓️💙

Awesome to be included in Australian Sailing’s Sail Her Way event at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

(SVSP Patron) — you did an amazing job as MC. It was great to head along connect with supporters of SVSP people helping grow inclusive pathways in sailing.

Why this matters

SVSP is fully inclusive of veterans and their families. Our community is currently 34% female, which is well above the ADF workforce average — and because we include families and volunteer supporters, we would love to keep building toward 50:50 participation.

Creating welcoming, visible and inclusive opportunities helps more people feel they belong — on the water, around the club, and within our Salty community.

PITTWATER | A big crew of 18 Saltwater Veterans joined the RPAYC Alfreds Community Sailing program this week. With the weather having other ideas, we pivoted the activity and jumped aboard the committee boats for a relaxed cruise around beautiful Pittwater, making the most of the conditions and the opportunity to connect.

Why this matters

Not every sailing day is about hoisting sails. Sometimes it’s simply about bringing people together.

One of the strengths of these two overlapping programs is the ability to adapt and continue creating meaningful opportunities for connection, conversation and community, regardless of the weather. For many veterans and family members, these social interactions are just as important as the sailing itself.

Days like this help reduce social isolation, strengthen friendships, build confidence and maintain connections with both the veteran and wider sailing communities.

A huge thank you to the volunteers and the team at RPAYC Alfreds Community Sailing for continuing to create welcoming and inclusive opportunities for our Salty crew.

💛⚓️💙

NEWCASTLE | Braving the Weather 💛⚓️💙

A hardy crew of Salties hit the water this week with Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, proving once again that a little weather is no match for good company, fresh air, and time on the water.

Why this matters

Sailing isn’t always about blue skies and perfect conditions. Sometimes it’s about showing up, connecting with others, building confidence, and sharing experiences together.

These social sails create opportunities for veterans, families, and supporters to get out of the house, strengthen social connections, learn new skills, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits that come from being on the water and part of a supportive community.

A huge thank you to Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club for continuing to support veterans through access to sailing opportunities, and to Port Waratah Coal Services whose funding support helps enable SVSP funded participation for veterans and their families in the Newcastle region. Their support helps remove financial barriers and ensures more people can access the connection, community, and wellbeing benefits that sailing provides.

Together, these partnerships are helping veterans get on the water, build friendships, and thrive.



Stay Salty 💛⚓️💙

FUNDED PARTICIPATION PILOT 💛⚓️💙 Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project are a veterans sailing organisation like no other — an ACNC-registered veterans' charity, DVA registered ex-service organisation, Australian Sailing affiliated club, and mobile Discover Sailing Centre.

Through our structure, we are now seeking to support more veterans and other veteran sailing organisations by sharing our participation and support model while helping reduce overheads through funded Australian Sailing personal annual registration and associated AS personal accident insurance - no matter where you sail.

The goal is simple: helping more veterans and their families participate in sailing with fewer financial barriers, greater connection, and stronger community support.

Read more here:

https://saltwaterveterans.org/blogs/salty-notes/svsp-participation-model-update-2026-2027-pilot-program

HOW FRICKING COOL! 💛⚓️💙 Saltwater Veterans cap spotted on US cable TV 🇺🇸 National Geographic this morning!

“Watching National Geographic this morning and Frank noticed that this guy had your hat (or lid) on. Of course they didn’t show it clearly, so these were the best pictures we could grab. Thought maybe you might know him. Way cool.”

Absolutely blows my mind seeing Salty kit randomly appear around the world like this. What started as a small community built around connection, purpose, and getting veterans on the water continues to quietly pop up in the most unexpected places.

Never underestimate the reach of community. 🌎

If anyone recognises the mystery Salty rocking the cap on Nat Geo — let us know! 😂

ATTENTION VETERANS | As part of the SVSP Pilot Participation Program, we are now supporting funded Australian Sailing numbers and your associate Aus Sailing insurance coverage for current and former serving ADF members and their families — wherever you sail across Australia.

Whether you sail with SVSP, your local yacht club, Navy Sailing, Army Sailing, Air Force Sailing, or another veteran sailing group, this pilot is designed to help reduce barriers to participation and keep veterans connected to the water and the wider sailing community.

Join here:
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/svsp/registration

Photo credit