In February this year the news service ran a Profile on Saltwater Veterans. Although the Pittwater community had been following this outfit for some years, and the support Saltwater Veterans gained from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht club to share the wonderful benefits sailing brings, this was 'their page' to spread the news to other veterans in our community.
Saltwater Veterans, originally known as ‘Four Men in a Boat’, was Co-founder Scott Reynolds and three veteran friends with no sailing experience taking to the waters to reconnect with life and each other. Following an 18-year naval career, Scott found the camaraderie, the movement, and the sheer enjoyment of being out on the water had immediate benefits for each veteran’s physical and mental health. Inspired by the effects on his wellbeing, Scott and his wife Jen started volunteering, encouraging more veterans to get involved in sailing.
The outfit has been operating since 2017, and commenced here, on the waters of Pittwater's estuary. In 2018 they became the 'Saltwater Veterans'.
With a crew of ‘salty volunteers, yacht clubs and sponsors such as Young Veterans and more recently local RSL sub-branches, Saltwater Veterans are now fostering overlapping communities in Sydney (at Manly, Cronulla and the Middle Harbor Yacht Club as well as Pittwater), Newcastle, Adelaide, Nowra, Perth and Mooloolaba, and upwards of 80–100 veterans each month on water.
''Being on the water can be of physical, mental, and emotional benefit for a variety of injuries and illness. Plus, it’s a really fun way for our veterans to express teamwork – one of many things veterans have in spades.'' Scott and Jen Reynolds explain
‘''As time passed and our mission grew, we evolved into the Saltwater Veterans in 2018. Our core vision remains steadfast: to cultivate a connected community of veterans and their families through engagement with water activities.
At Saltwater Veterans, we are driven by a deep sense of family and a commitment to serving our community. Our clothing brand represents the shared spirit and unity that fuels our pursuit of a common vision—to support individuals who, like us at some point in their lives, have sought assistance in re-engaging socially through the empowering and kinetic experience of sailing.''
With a growing cohort of 'Salties' Scotty and Jen set a mission earlier this year to secure a training boat.
Great news came through a few weeks ago that they had done it.
Scotty explained:
''We just purchased our own Saltwater Veterans sail training boat from Darwin. What makes this story great though is the incredible support of community.
- North Sails & Contender Sail Cloth have donated new main sail
- Harken are re rigging the boat
- Nautical Marine Trimming are donating a cover
And then the fact Navy is bringing it back to Sydney on the back of a warship! Pretty sure this is a World First!''
Sure enough, the 'all in together' support continued with Wild Creek Print expediting the order and delivery of all the SVSP hull decals up to Darwin super snappy and in time to bring our ACNC-registered charity’s Elliott 7 south. Absolute legends!
Likewise, big appreciation went to the Royal Australian Navy and the HMAS Coonawarra Port Services team for jumping in to help get them on the boat.
And then she was ready to be transhipped and the RAN stepped up again.
On Friday October 17 Scotty sent an update:
''This week marks a huge milestone for our ACNC-registered charity, the Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project — as our newly acquired (second-hand) Elliott 7 sail training vessel begins her journey south aboard HMAS Warramunga!
A massive thank you to the Royal Australian Navy, the crew of HMAS Warramunga, and the shore support team at HMAS Coonawarra for their professionalism, care, and genuine support. From coordination to loading, every step reflected Navy values in action.
For SVSP, this moment is about more than moving a yacht — it’s about connection. Connection between current serving members, veterans, and their families, fostering social bonds and meaningful engagement through sailing.
We can’t wait to welcome this vessel to Sydney, where she’ll undergo restoration before joining the SVSP RHIB to support sailing opportunities for current and former ADF members and their families.''
So, why a yacht from Darwin?
The Elliott 7 is a highly regarded sail training vessel used by yacht clubs across Australia. This specific model is rarely available second-hand — so when the opportunity appeared, SVSP jumped on it! With funding support from the NSW Government, thank you James Griffin MP for Manly for your help, and Ocius Technology, we secured this asset at a fraction of the new price — a huge win for our sailing project and community.
Thank you again to everyone involved — your support truly means the world.''
Manly MP James Griffin said:
“Saltwater veterans are a terrific organisation that I am proud to support. I know how important this new yacht is to the veteran community, and it’ll be put to good use by Scotty and the crew.”
HMAS Warramunga made her way south and arrived in Sydney on October 24, although it was Wednesday October 29 before the Saltwater Veterans could unload her.
Scotty and Jen's October 24 update:
''Our Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project Elliott 7 has arrived today in Sydney aboard HMAS Warramunga!
We’re absolutely pumped to welcome our very first yacht — a huge milestone for the Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project! The yacht is scheduled to be unloaded at Fleet Base East on Wednesday.
Massive gratitude to the RAN for their incredible support, and to everyone involved in making this possible.
This marks a major step forward for our ACNC-registered charity. Until now, we’ve primarily relied on borrowed or rented boats. This new asset will boost our sailing capacity, strengthen our identity on the water, and create meaningful opportunities for veterans and serving members to be hands-on with its operation, maintenance, and sailing.
Once unloaded, the yacht will undergo a full maintenance and restoration program before being officially commissioned into the Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project fleet.
The local boating community has already rallied behind the restoration, with incredible support including a new mainsail from North Sails and Contender Sailcloth, volunteer shipwright work from Buckingham Marine Services, and new rigging lines from Harken Australia.
This yacht now begins its next chapter — serving those who have served, and their families.''
Photo credit: @sellars4414
And when she was unloaded earlier last week: MORE gratitude.
Go Saltwater Veterans - can't wait to see where your Elliott 7 takes everyone next!
The Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project organises one event in each location every month. The biggest single event had 105 current serving soldiers sailing, with 20 boats largely skippered by volunteers.
The core vision remains steadfast: to cultivate a connected community of veterans and their families through engagement with water activities.
''At Saltwater Veterans, the crew are driven by a deep sense of family and a commitment to serving our community and to support individuals who, like the Saltwater Veterans, at some point in their lives, have sought assistance in re-engaging socially through the empowering and kinetic experience of sailing.''
The Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project reached an important milestone in September 2022 by officially establishing the SWV Ltd trading as Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project (SVSP) as an Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC) registered health promotion charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and as a recognised Australian Sailing club.
Your support will ensure a future of camaraderie, skill-building, and meaningful engagement for those who have served our nation.
Find out more at: saltwaterveterans.org
great stuff!