VetsBoats is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded and led by military veterans, dedicated to restoring health, well‑being, and community for those living with PTSD, traumatic injuries, addiction, and isolation. We believe in the transformative power of sailing and maritime work as therapeutic tools—an approach grounded in research and decades of lived experience on the water.
Our mission is to deliver measurable improvements in veterans’ health, connection, and sense of purpose. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we now operate as a growing national network serving veterans and their families through local chapters, affiliates, and partner fleets.
How does it work? We partner with boat owners, VA recreation therapy teams, and veteran service organizations to offer a continuum of programs: mindfulness‑based therapeutic sailing, marine education, sail training, and hands‑on vessel restoration. These experiences build skills while fostering camaraderie, teamwork, and a supportive peer community that helps veterans move from isolation into active participation and leadership.
What are the results? Since beginning with a single boat in 2014, VetsBoats has taken thousands of veterans and family members sailing and expanded to dozens of partner vessels across regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Galveston, Springfield (OH), and Annapolis. Alongside our VA partners in these areas, we continue to refine and scale a model that is by veterans, for veterans, and built to last.
How VetsBoats Started
I founded VetsBoats to create a place where veterans can reconnect, heal, and thrive. My journey began at the U.S. Naval Academy and led from flying combat missions to commanding aircrew and unmanned systems, experiences that delivered both extraordinary highs and profound lows. Those years cemented my belief that the discipline, teamwork, and sense of mission we find at sea can help veterans move from isolation back into community—and that sailing, done with intention and camaraderie, can be a powerful part of that journey.
Get In Touch
ADDRESS
Physical:
Marina Bay Yacht Harbor
Richmond, CA 94804
Mailing:
1001 Bridgeway St. #608
Sausalito, CA, 94965
Email:
