Veterans To Sail LI Sound For PTSD Awareness

CENTERPORT, NY — More than 120 veterans, most of them Long Islanders, are set to take to the waters in SailAhead's seventh annual "Take a Veteran Sailing" afternoon on Aug. 13 as guest crew members on a fleet of 35 volunteer boats, according to a news release.

SailAhead, founded in 2015 by teenagers Kilian and Sean Duclay, uses sailing and the ocean as a therapeutic platform to help heal veterans who suffer from PTSD, raise awareness of PTSD and veteran suicide, as well as honor those who have died by suicide.

The day is set to begin at noon at Centerport Yacht Club (CYC) with the opening ceremony hosted by CYC Past Commodore Thom Hering. The veterans will then each be assigned to the all-volunteer fleet of boats for an afternoon sail.

Volunteer cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will assist the veterans in learning some basic sailing skills. Escort vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard Eaton's Neck Station, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau and the Huntington and Northport Harbor police will accompany the fleet.

Two helicopters will provide video coverage overhead.

After sailing for a few hours on the Long Island Sound, the boats will return to shore for a BBQ courtesy of the Centerport Yacht Club, Arizona Beverages, and Ralph's Italian Ices.

The Society Road band will provide music with Sheila Fitzpatrick on vocals.

"We believe involving veterans with our activities on the water will lead to their mental well-being and prevent suicides," Sean Duclay said in a news release. "Primarily taking them sailing is how we do it!"

This year’s event will honor Specialist Ryan James Day, an Army Ranger from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Army Regiment, along with all their mates. Ryan died by suicide at the age of 21, on
Dec. 15, 2014.

Kilian and Sean Duclay were 16 and 14 years old, respectively, when they founded SailAhead in 2015. In May 2016, SailAhead became a not-for-profit IRS approved charity (501c- 3).