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A Capital Campaign for Freedom Sailing

Scaling Freedom
on the Open Water

We take veterans and first responders sailing to heal from the wounds of service. Our boat is full. Help us launch the next one.

800+veterans and family members served
70structured sailing sessions each year
40%of participants hold a severe 70 to 100% VA disability rating
97%report an immediate positive impact on health and wellness
The Mission

Healing through mindfulness, nature, and the demand of the sea

Freedom Sailing supports military veterans and first responders navigating the lasting impacts of trauma, including PTSD. Through our Open S.E.A.S. program we practice Mindfulness Based Sailing Therapy, an evidence based, non clinical approach that builds psychological flexibility and emotional regulation. Every sail is free for the men and women we serve.

Camaraderie

Crews of veterans and first responders working a boat together rebuild the unit bond many lost when they took off the uniform.

Mindfulness

The water demands presence. Wind, sail, and sea pull attention out of the past and into the moment.

Resilience

Learning to crew a vessel builds real skills, real confidence, and a community that shows up week after week.

The Problem

We have reached the physical limits of our current boat

Demand for the Open S.E.A.S. program is surging, but our current vessel, a 24 foot performance trimaran, is capping how many we can serve and who can come aboard.

  • Capacity is strictly limited to 5 or 6 people per sail
  • Zero wheelchair or mobility boarding access; boarding requires physical agility over water
  • No indoor shelter, climate control, or privacy for trauma sensitive veterans experiencing sensory overload
  • A high heeling, wet, adrenaline focused ride that can trigger hypervigilance
Diagram of operational bottlenecks on the Sail Shocked trimaran
The Solution

The Leopard 39 catamaran: a fully accessible floating sanctuary

We have identified a 2011 Leopard 39 catamaran that transforms how we deliver the program. This is not a luxury. It is capacity, safety, and access.

Leopard 39 catamaran under sail with a full crew aboard
  • Twelve people per sail, doubling every therapy group
  • Flush, walk on dock boarding, fully accessible for veterans with severe physical disabilities
  • Enclosed climate controlled salon providing shelter and sensory regulation
  • Flat, stable multi hull cruising suited to mindfulness and calm
  • Three private cabins and two heads for comfort and dignity on longer therapeutic sails
Ready to Scale

The foundation is funded. The boat is the last piece.

We have managed our balance sheet for this exact milestone. The infrastructure to support the vessel is already secured.

Secured

Long term slip funding

The Leopard's boat slip is already funded for the long term.

$30,000

Current boat equity

Our existing vessel's equity rolls directly into the acquisition.

$47,900

Secured cash reserves

Cash on hand, protected and committed to this campaign.

Our operational overhead is covered. Every dollar of this campaign goes toward acquiring the vessel, and your gift instantly doubles our daily capacity.
Joshua Johnson at the bow
Who You Are Backing

Led by a USMC combat veteran and certified Master Captain

Freedom Sailing was founded in 2018 by Joshua Johnson, a veteran of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan. Josh lived with undiagnosed PTSD for years before finding relief on the water, and he has translated that journey into a structured, peer led community that sails week after week.

US Certified Master Captain 8+ years of nonprofit leadership Financially contributing Board of Directors

“We felt so welcomed and learned so much... it is as if the second by second stressors of my life fade away and I can look out towards the future.”

Program participant

Be the catalyst

Your gift removes mobility barriers for disabled veterans, doubles our capacity overnight, and secures a stable therapeutic platform for the next decade of Freedom Sailing.

Donate to the Boat Fund

Give online

Every donation moves the meter, at any amount.

Checks and pledges

Email josh@freedomsailing.org and we'll handle the details.

Grants and sponsors

We provide full documentation for foundations, grantmakers, and corporate partners.