2025 Year in Review

 

A Decade of Sailing Strong for Valhalla Sailing Project

What a year! From celebrating a major milestone to dominating the podium across the Chesapeake and beyond, our veteran community has truly shown what it means to find purpose and camaraderie on the water. We didn't just sail; we built a home, a legacy, and a formidable racing reputation.

By the Numbers: Life on the Water

We made it our mission to keep the boats moving this year, sailing an average of 3-4 days a week.

  • Training: Hosted 4 Learn-to-Sail weekend clinics, bringing 70 new Veterans into the program

  • Skill Building: Logged over 24 Monday practice sails and 10 dedicated Women’s only Sails.

  • Consistency: Competed in every single Annapolis Yacht Club Wednesday Night Race (WNR) and Eastport Yacht Club Friday Night series.

  • Adventure: Completed the DelMarVa Circumnavigation with a crew of 8 veterans.

Racing Highlights & Podium Finishes

Our team was a force to be reckoned with this season, bringing home glassware from New Orleans to Annapolis.

  • Most notably, we finished 3rd place in the J/30 North Americans held at Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans

  • Other highlights include numerous top 3 finishes in local regattas from 2nd in J/30 East Coast Championship, Hospice Cup, 1st place in Annapolis Yacht Club Fall Series, and 1st in Maryland Cures Cancer Regatta

Special Recognition: The Herrington Harbor Women’s Regatta was an amazing success thanks to Board Member Amy Pantoja. With 12 female veterans and 21 women total across 3 boats, we took home the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies!

Growth & Sustainability

This year, we fortified our foundation—literally and financially—ensuring we have a "home port" for years to come.

  • The Home Depot Foundation Buildout: Thanks to a massive effort, we completed our office buildout, improved our gear storage, and finally have a trophy case to display our growing collection of hardware.

  • Funding: We secured state, local, and private grants to maintain our fleet and keep our programs free for veterans.

  • Celebrating 10 Years: We toasted a decade of impact with an incredible anniversary party at the Eastport Yacht Club during the Annapolis Sailboat Show. 

Ten years in, and we are just hitting our stride. Whether it’s a quiet practice sail or a high-stakes North American Championship, the mission remains the same: supporting our veterans.

Thank you to all that help support the Valhalla Sailing Project. Here’s to even more success in 2026.