SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — One local veteran has turned his newfound passion post-service into a nonprofit meant to inspire other servicemembers. Veteran Sailing provides an outlet to connect with nature and those who’ve walked similar paths.
“No matter where you’re at once you take the tiller or you take the helm on a sailboat and you feel that wind and the sails fill – for me, everything else is out the window mentally,” said Brian Forristal, founder and CEO of Veteran Sailing.
Forristal’s nonprofit is dedicated to giving veterans and active-duty military an outlet out on the water. Forristal served in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010.
“It was just struggling period for a few years to plant my feet,” Forristal said.
Life after the military wasn’t always smooth until Forristal found sailing. Veteran Sailing was a chance to build authentic community with others who have walked similar paths.
Navy Veteran Don Rock is also a captain and sailing instructor working to help Forristal’s vision grow.
“Every time you go sailing, you are experiencing something just a little bit different whether it’s the strength of the wind, or currents, or how big the seas are. It’s learning to work in harmony with that to keep the boat propelled, keep moving forward and that’s part of life,” Rock said.
Army Veteran Nate Nash was raised in San Diego, but initially never considered sailing.
“But after the Army, sailing has probably been the most therapeutic thing for me. Being out on the water, once you leave the dock, just the noise of the world goes away it’s you the water and the wind,” Nash said.
Despite the different backgrounds or branches of the military, once they step on the boat they’re working toward the same goals.
“I’m really out here just to help other veterans who I know may be going through a hard time with grief, or with transitioning out of the military, or just trying to find their place because I know it’s tough,” Forristal said.
When Veteran Sailing first began there were a couple dozen veterans involved, but in just one short year the organization is now in touch with hundreds of veterans.
As the nonprofit continues to attract fellow servicemembers looking to step out of their comfort zone, the experiences are growing thanks to the support of the community also catching wind of the work being done out here off Harbor Island.
“We’ve recently had support from Veterans Thrift Store. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to expand from once a month sailing events to weekly,” Forristal explained.
Through sailing adventures and even sponsoring veterans to get sailing certifications, there’s more on the horizon for this nonprofit that’s just getting started.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
