About Us

WMSAIL brings veterans together in units of 3 or 4 through the art of sailing. This team focus strives to eliminate isolation and build camaraderie for a lifetime.

WMSAIL will provide ongoing support while partnering with other Veteran-focused organizations to build a supportive, dedicated network.

Our goal is to promote a program that facilitates self-discovery, an atmosphere of camaraderie, a sense of accomplishment, inner strength, self-sufficiency and sustainability in a seven-county area of Western Michigan.

The seven-counties we currently serve are: Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola Counties. We also work directly with Veterans agencies in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids and Detroit.

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Our Mission

The primary purpose of West Michigan SAIL (WMSAIL), a 501(C)3 organization, is to teach sailing to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and physical handicaps. 

The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:

  •   To provide sailing instruction as an accredited school of US Sailing

    •  To rebuild the camaraderie for veterans which may have been lost since leaving active duty by partnering each veteran with a unit of two or three other veterans

    •  To assist veterans in developing positive peer relationships, thereby improving self-esteem and leadership skills, while gaining sailing and other skills such as First Aid and CPR certification

    •  To allow the veterans to work toward becoming peer mentors for future participants in the program

To fund our program, in addition to donations, we will offer special events during the summer to coincide with our sailing school. The income from these events will allow the veterans to participate at no cost

  • The following fund raising events are planned

    • US Sail Accredited sail training program for the general public

    • Afternoon and sunset chartered cruises

    • Corporate outings

    • Burial of ashes at sea

    • Special events or occasions

The purpose of WMSAIL is:

  • To build the camaraderie among groups of 3 or 4 Veterans by teaching them how to sail as a unit;

• Once the Veterans complete the class, to make sailboats available, at no cost, to these units to continue to build their skills and their camaraderie;

• Ultimately the camaraderie of these units will help reduce the number of veteran suicides in general, and hopefully achieve zero suicides in the seven-county service area.