Taking a Moment to Appreciate the Journey
Community, Momentum, and Looking Ahead
Sailing & Veteran Community
After spending the past week at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, I've been reminded just how grateful I am for the sailing community back home. And that gratitude goes well beyond the support I've received for this campaign.
While I am originally from just outside of Philadelphia, some of my earliest sailing memories involve Annapolis. From racing Optis and then 420s out of Severn Sailing Association, to sailing on keel boats out in the Chesapeake Bay, to racing against many local sailors while on the Naval Academy’s offshore team. Many of those same people involved in my early sailing days are still out on the water and remain present in the local community.
After moving around the country and deploying with the Marine Corps, I returned to Annapolis in 2019 to once again join this community. What I did not expect to find was the additional veteran community through U.S. Patriot Sailing.
The Annapolis Sailboat Show is a special annual event as it is the largest in-water sailboat show in the world. Our U.S. Patriot Sailing teammate and Marine Corps veteran, Ronnie Simpson, welcomed us aboard his Class40 as he prepares to race solo around the world. Peter Quinn, the founder and director of U.S. Patriot Sailing, was there as well, and the three of us spent time bringing awareness to this incredible nonprofit organization. Shout out to Getac for supporting U.S. Patriot Sailing and both of our solo ocean racing campaigns with their rugged laptops!
Ronnie Simpson, Peter Quinn, Peter Gibbons-Neff
Jane and I moved to France in March, making this my first trip back to the U.S. since then. Over four days at the Sailboat Show, we reconnected with campaign partners, old friends, and supporters, while meeting plenty of new people interested in what we're doing. Whether standing on the dock with the U.S. Patriot Sailing team or walking through the show, I genuinely enjoyed the conversations about supporting veterans and the new boat we've recently launched in France.
I'm grateful for the sailing and veteran communities in Annapolis and across the country. Thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello, asked questions, offered to help, or made a donation. It was great seeing so many familiar faces, and meeting quite a few new ones.
Campaign Momentum
One of the most challenging parts of racing solo offshore isn't necessarily the weather or lack of sleep, it's finding the funding to support the years of preparation and training required just to reach the starting line.
We still have a long way to go to meet our funding goals, but it's encouraging to see things coming together. Last month, we launched our new Mini in France and were foiling faster than the wind speed during our first sail test. We're seeing more companies recognize the opportunities to partner with this international campaign, while continuing to bring attention and support to veterans through U.S. Patriot Sailing.
Since launching Resolve, we have seen an incredible amount of interest in the project. In 90 days, our content reached more than 1.8 million views across social media, with people following across North America, Europe, Australia, and beyond. It's awesome hearing from people who are discovering the Mini Transat for the first time and are curious about how a 21 foot boat can race across an ocean, let alone fly above the water!
The launch has also attracted attention from sailing media. From articles in Sail-World (Read Here) to Sailing World's recent Starting Line feature shared with its subscribers, it's been rewarding to see the new boat and our plans for 2027 reach a wider audience.
Podcasts have been another great way to connect with the sailing community. Earlier this month, I joined the Bar Karate podcast for a conversation with sailors who focus heavily on the racing side of the sport (see below). Next up is an interview with Andy Schell on 59 North Sailing's On the Wind podcast. We met in Annapolis just before the boat show and had a great conversation about my sailing background, the Mini Transat, and what we're trying to accomplish with RESOLVE. I'll share the episode once it's released.
Meeting Brian and Karin from the hit YouTube channel Sailing SV Delos who also partnered with Quantum Sails (Watch Here)
Email to all Sailing World Subscribers
Looking Ahead
The Annapolis Sailboat Show was another encouraging step forward. Beyond reconnecting with friends and the sailing community, Jane and I had some promising conversations with potential partners and supporters. It's been particularly rewarding to meet people interested not just in the racing, but also in our work supporting veterans through U.S. Patriot Sailing.
None of this would be possible without the companies and individuals who have already stepped forward to support the campaign. Over the coming weeks, I'll be sharing more about each of our sponsors and technical partners, and what they're contributing to RESOLVE. Each has played an important role in getting us this far, and I want to give them the recognition they deserve.
There's still a tremendous amount of work ahead. We'll soon be back in France continuing to test and develop the new boat, with a full racing season leading into the 2027 Mini Transat. But after spending time in Annapolis and seeing the enthusiasm surrounding this campaign, I'm heading back with a renewed sense of motivation and appreciation for everyone helping make it possible.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported us, whether through a sponsorship, donation, introduction, or simply following along. It all makes a difference.
If you'd like to support the veteran community through U.S. Patriot Sailing, tax-deductible donations can be made directly to the nonprofit using the link below.
Check out my interview with the team at Bar Karate in Australia where we discuss my new Mini 6.50 Resolve and what goes into a Mini Transat campaign.
Check out the videos of the first flight from 1137 RESOLVE!
Check out the article published by SAIL Magazine!
Become a Part of This Campaign!
Support this campaign by helping us launch with a tax deductible donation
As we enter the final stage of building this new proto, there is a long list of essential equipment and parts that must go into the boat. While we have some strong initial backing to start the build the boat, and have lowered the overall costs through support from technical partners, but there are still many things we could use your support with!
If you donate to sponsor a part of the boat, we can add your name to it and give you (or your company) shout outs during the installation and the sailing over the next two seasons!
Send me an email and let’s get you on the boat!
Email: peter@pgnoceanracing.com
Check out the CCA article that was published in their Voyages magazine
We are racing to Brazil!
The upcoming Mini Transat starts in September 2027 with 90 Minis crossing the starting line in La Rochelle, France. The fleet will set off to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canaries for a stop over, then race to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
This is exciting for the Classe Mini 6.50 fleet since now we will be crossing both the Atlantic Ocean and equator in the same race. This revived route is already a part of the long history of the race, because it had previously been used six times from 2001-2011.
Check out the new race website:
Sailing Terminal Leave in Annapolis this October (Photo Credit: Matt Ellis)
Looking Ahead — The 2027 Mission
While the last campaign focused on raising awareness for U.S. Patriot Sailing, this new mission is about expanding support — enabling the organization to create even more opportunities for veterans.
One major goal of U.S. Patriot Sailing is to introduce a cruising platform where veterans and their families can share calm, restorative experiences on the water — a vital way to strengthen connection and healing.
U.S. Patriot Sailing remains 100% volunteer-run, accomplishing its mission solely through the generous support of individual donors and grants. Together, we can make this next phase possible.
Donate HERE to support the U.S. Patriot Sailing team.
From raising awareness to expanding support — together, we’re building more opportunities for veterans.
Follow the Mission
As this campaign builds momentum, please makes sure you are following along and stay connected:
Website: www.pgnoceanracing.com
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube (@pgnoceanracing)
Instagram usually has the most frequent and quick updates!
Donate: You can support this new campaign with a tax deductible donation through U.S. Patriot Sailing — helping not only this mission, but also the veterans this organization serves. You can choose where your donation goes exactly: support a local team, this 2027 Mini Transat campaign, or the organization at large. Donate HERE
The support for the 2023 Mini Transat was the foundation for everything we’ve achieved so far. I hope you will be part of the adventure as we set out for this new mission.
New design, new challenge, same mission-driven commitment
Questions? Want to support?
Reach out out to peter@pgnoceanracing.com and jane@pgnoceanracing.com
Watch the video below to learn why I’ve decided to compete in the Mini Transat again:
Is your club, organization, or company interested in hearing about this new mission?
