100+ Veterans to Set Sail on Long Island Sound for PTSD Awareness

Centerport, NY - More than 100 veterans, mostly from Long Island, will participate in the SailAhead.org 8th annual "Take a Veteran Sailing" afternoon sail on July 28th as guest crewmembers on a fleet of 25 volunteer sailboats.

Founded in 2015 by Long Islander teenagers. Kilian & Sean Duclay, SailAhead.org 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 taken their lives.

The day's activities begin at Noon at Centerport Yacht Club (CYC) with the opening ceremony hosted by CYC Fleet Captain Tim Ebert. 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. The fleet will be accompanied by escort vessels from the U. S. Coast Guard Eaton's Neck Station, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau and the Huntington & Northport Harbor Police. Two helicopters will be overhead to provide video coverage.

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 & Ralph's Italian Ices. Music will be provided by the Society Road band with Sheila Fitzpatrick on vocals.

According to SailAhead's co-founder, Sean Duclay, "Our goal is three-fold: spread PTSD and veteran suicide awareness, honor Our Mates, and foster community connection between the sailing and military worlds."

This year’s event again will honor SPC 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 December 15, 2014.

About SailAhead: SailAhead was founded in 2015 by Kilian & Sean Duclay (then 16 & 14 year-old teenagers). In May of 2016 SailAhead became a not-for-profit IRS approved charity (501c-3) which aims to use 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 taken their lives. For more information about SailAhead and their activities, please visit www.sailahead.org.

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Media Contact: Bob Slingo (516-526-4661)

(Photos courtesy of SailAhead.org)