There’s a way for Australian Defence Force members to find a sense of belonging – and that’s on the water
When Scotty Reynolds was medically discharged from the Australian Navy in 2016, he and wife Jen faced a tough time. The Manly couple had a baby daughter, and Scotty had been diagnosed with PTSD. “When Scotty was medically transitioned out (of the Navy) after serving 18 years he went through a very difficult time, to pretty much understate it,” Jen says. “And then he found solace in sailing.”
Scotty was invited by a friend to a community sailing day at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, a free activity that got community groups like veterans and first responders out onto the water once a month. Jen says that while he was qualified to drive a warship, Scotty had never learnt technical sailing and soon found himself regularly going out for a sail with three other veterans.
“When Scotty had been out on the water I noticed that he came home more content, more calm and less reactive.”
Jen
Jen says the activity ‘lifted him through that time.’ “When (Scotty) had been out on the water I noticed that he came home more content, more calm and less reactive,” she explains, adding that PTSD brings symptoms like hypervigilance. “After sailing he was more calm and it was easier for him to focus and be happy.”
Scotty (right) found solace in sailing
Originally Scotty and his new friends called themselves Four Men in a Boat, but once he and Jen recognised what a benefit the sailing was in aiding Scotty’s transition out of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), they became more involved in the sailing days.
Scotty started to volunteer and invited other veterans and then their families to come along, and even expanded their locations to include Manly. Eventually he and Jen co-founded the Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project which became a charity in 2022, and is an affiliated club of Australian Sailing.
“Transitioning from Defence is a very complex time, depending on what the individual is going through,” Jen says. Difficulties such as loss of identity, purpose and belonging can be tough. “When Scotty went through that and found some sort of solace and support in improving his mental health at that time within sailing, we knew that it was something we wanted to share.”
The Saltwater Veterans runs all year round, and is inclusive of current and former ADF members and their families. Jen says they have received great support from the Forestville RSL Sub- Branch and the Balgowlah/Seaforth RSL Sub-Branch. Last year Saltwater Veterans had 1,400 registrations and was named the Australian Sailing Club of the Year (Category B).
While they do run twilight races in Manly on Friday nights, the racing is not competitive. “It’s about the experience, camaraderie, social connection and taking away something new,” Jen says. “For us, sailing is the conduit to connect our community.”
For more information, visit: saltwaterveterans.org