Reconnecting Veterans & Families Through Sailing
Empowering change
Supporting Veterans & Families
Community
Empowering change Supporting Veterans & Families Community
Our Story
Retired Army Major Guy Mewburn, with 25 years of service, had experienced firsthand the healing power of sailing. With the help of a few mates, he founded Sailing On to help former Defence personnel reconnect with the camaraderie they once shared—and to support those facing mental health challenges.
By bringing together veterans and current service members, Sailing On has grown into a vital support network. Today, it serves as a steady anchor for many navigating the transition to civilian life, while also offering a welcoming space for families to connect and former comrades to reunite.
Our Focus
The focus of Sailing ON is to repair disused yachts and form teams to sail them. The model chosen emulates the act, belong, commit, approach and is aimed at getting our members active in the community while looking after each other. This is achieved through veterans learning new skills repairing boats; typically learning how to fibreglass, rigging skills and boat maintenance.
Formal sailing courses are conducted through South of Perth Yacht Club where members learn how to crew yachts and then sail any time on our yachts, engaging and developing as teams, learning more sailing skills and communicating in a relaxed environment.
​Once our members are trained, they can crew for any other yachts as well as us. This cross pollination gives them the opportunity to mix with other crews and boat owners; often people who are influential in industry.
