Calmer waters for Veterans across our shores

Originally known as ‘Four Men in a Boat’, Scott Reynolds and three Veteran friends with no sailing experience took to the waters to reconnect with life and each other. Following an 18 year Naval career, the camaraderie, the movement and the sheer enjoyment of being out on the water saw immediate benefits for Scott’s physical and mental health. Inspired by the effects on his wellbeing, he started volunteering, encouraging more Veterans to get involved in sailing, and eventually completed a number of instructing and coaching qualifications.

Scott’s mission became clear when he competed in his first Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and Women, in Sydney in 2018. The bravery and commitment of competitors and their support groups, plus the inspiration of the Invictus community was the catalyst for him wanting to pay it forward to other Veterans. He understood quickly that you don’t have to compete in sport to reap the benefits – participation is the key. “At Invictus I understood the impact of participating on any level, as a coach, a mentor, official or volunteer. Just being part of it can have a really positive and lasting effect on your rehabilitation, your recovery and wellbeing.”

In 2018, with the support of family and many volunteers this humble concept became known as the Saltwater Veterans, co-founded and run by Scott and his wife Jen. The project uses inclusive and adaptive sailing to support the physical, mental and emotional needs of Veterans who have experienced being wounded, injury or illness. Now with presence in Adelaide, Newcastle, Perth, the Sunshine Coast, Nowra and Sydney, their unwavering mission is to create connection and community, aimed at alleviating social isolation for Veterans.

“It’s about trying to empower a Veteran to ‘walk through that door’, to be part of a community again and experience meaningful engagement with other Veterans, their families and carers,” says Scott. “When a bus of Veterans arrives and you see them get off the bus, you can see how closed they are. You can see it in their body language and their shoulders and their lack of desire to speak to anybody. You put them out on the water with a volunteer (who may or may not be a Veteran) and suddenly all those woes go away. Sailing is mindfulness, teamwork, it stimulates endorphins, positive vibes. It’s getting you moving. And the boat doesn’t move without the support of each other. You watch the difference when they come into the clubhouse for lunch. They’re telling tall stories about fighting pirates, having a laugh. It’s insane.”

The Saltwater Veterans run one event in each location every month, supporting 100-150 Veterans Australia wide. Their biggest single event recently in Adelaide saw 105 current serving soldiers participate, with 20 boats largely skippered by volunteers. “We are completely dependent on family and volunteer support from within and outside the Veteran community. Without them the whole initiative doesn’t work. We see volunteering as an integral part of the Veteran experience. You may start as a participant in the sailing events, but with time everyone has the capacity to volunteer whether it’s on the boat, handing out life jackets or taking the lunch order,” Scott says.

“Our aim is social re-injection, so we want to keep people involved and connected in-between and beyond the events. I think the volunteers take away as much as the participants because as a volunteer it’s not about what ‘I’ want to achieve, it’s about what ‘you’ want to achieve. People recognise the gift of giving to the community beyond themselves.” Says Scott. 

There are challenges being almost entirely family funded and volunteer facilitated, but Scott is awed every day by the kindness of their many supporters. “We’ve partnered with another great Not-For-Profit called Young Veterans, received pro bono legal support, and had our Saltwater Veteran caps sold by a high profile retail outlet. You know a local marine diesel mechanic only charges me for parts, never labour. He’s giving the most valuable resource you can give which is time. Time isn’t money. Time is life.”

Scott wants to keep expanding around the country, so wherever you go you’re a Saltwater Veteran, just by the virtue you participated. “A little while ago Sharon, a wheelchair Veteran from up north was passing through Sydney on her way to Canberra to visit her son, and she contacted me to join a sail on the way through. That’s what we’re all about. We have the common bond of the military. It’s a sense of belonging wherever you are.”

https://www.saltwaterveterans.org/