Remembering Those Who Have Served
Surviving officers of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, at Belleau Wood, France, June 18, 1918. Among them are Thomas Holcomb and Clifton Cates, both future Commandants of the Marine Corps. The regiment's WWI service is commemorated by the French fourragère still worn today by Marines assigned to the regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph, National Archives collection)
Today is Veterans Day in the United States, and here in France, it's Armistice Day. Both holidays trace their origins to November 11, 1918, when the armistice ending the fighting in World War I took effect.
It's interesting to experience this day from another country, especially one with such a long and shared military history with the United States. In France, November 11 is a national holiday marked by ceremonies at war memorials throughout the country, honoring those who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts. In the United States, Veterans Day has evolved into an opportunity to recognize all who have served in our Armed Forces.
Wearing the fourragère in 2017 when assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines
There's also a personal connection to this shared history and the photograph above. During my time on active duty in the Marine Corps, I served with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, whose Marines wear the French fourragère. This green-and-red braided cord, worn on the shoulder, recognizes the extraordinary gallantry of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments during World War I, including the fighting at Belleau Wood. Its colors come from the French Croix de Guerre, a military decoration awarded for acts of bravery in combat. I wore the fourragère as part of my uniform, and now, living in France, I have an even greater appreciation for the history and sacrifice it represents.
Although the traditions differ, both holidays offer an important opportunity to reflect on service, sacrifice, and the generations who have served their countries.
And before going any further, a belated happy 251st birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Founded on November 10, 1775, the Marine Corps has been an important part of my life for more than 15 years (and still is as a reservist!). I'm grateful for the experiences, opportunities, and especially the people I've had the privilege of serving alongside. Semper Fidelis!
The Veteran Community
One of the things I've come to appreciate most about military service is the community that forms around a shared purpose. During my years on active duty in the Marine Corps, I had the opportunity to work alongside some remarkable people, often in challenging circumstances and far from home. The relationships formed through those shared experiences remain important to me today.
Military service means something different to everyone. Some spend years deployed overseas, others serve closer to home, and many families experience the challenges of long separations, frequent moves, and the uncertainty that comes with military life. Not everyone's experience is the same, but each person contributes to something larger than themselves.
On Veterans Day, I think it's important to recognize not only those who have served, but also the families who have supported them. Their contributions and sacrifices deserve just as much appreciation.
I also think about the friendships that continue long after our time serving together. A perfect example was reconnecting with some Marine friends in Paris earlier this year, both of whom I hadn't seen in many years. We had spent nine months deployed together in Afghanistan as part of an advisor team, an experience that brought us incredibly close. Despite all the time that had passed and the different paths our lives had taken, it felt like very little had changed. Those are the kinds of friendships that make the military community so special.
Finding Community Through U.S. Patriot Sailing
When I returned to Annapolis in 2019, I became involved with U.S. Patriot Sailing, a nonprofit organization that brings veterans together through sailing.
At the time, I was still on active duty and thought it would be a great opportunity to share my sailing experience with other veterans. What I didn't fully appreciate was how much I would gain from the organization myself.
I had spent much of the previous decade moving between duty stations, deployments, and different assignments. Returning to Annapolis gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the sailing community, but U.S. Patriot Sailing offered something more: a chance to connect with other veterans through an activity I already loved.
One of the things I appreciate most about the organization is how it brings together veterans from different branches of service, generations, and backgrounds. Some have extensive sailing experience, while others are stepping aboard a sailboat for the first time. Once we're out on the water, those differences matter a lot less. We're working together, learning from one another, and enjoying the experience. The shared sense of purpose and camaraderie feels familiar, even though the setting is very different.
I've remained involved as a volunteer skipper and ambassador, and supporting U.S. Patriot Sailing has become an important part of my current Mini Transat campaign.
The Mini Transat is a solo race across the Atlantic, but getting to the starting line is anything but a solo effort. I'm fortunate to have a growing community of people supporting the campaign, and I hope to use the attention surrounding the 2027 race to introduce more people to U.S. Patriot Sailing and the work they're doing for veterans.
If you're a veteran interested in sailing, an experienced sailor interested in volunteering, or someone who wants to support the organization, I'd encourage you to learn more at www.uspatriotsailing.org.
The Transition Back to Civilian Life
I've also been working on another blog post focused on the difficulties veterans can face when transitioning from military service to civilian life.
It's a subject I've thought about quite a bit since leaving active duty, and one that I believe deserves more attention. Military service provides a level of structure, responsibility, shared purpose, and community that can be difficult to replace afterward.
Of course, every veteran's experience is different. For some, the transition is relatively straightforward. For others, it can mean adjusting to a completely different environment, finding a new sense of purpose, or rebuilding the community that was once such a large part of daily life.
My experience with U.S. Patriot Sailing has reinforced how important those connections can be. I'm looking forward to exploring this subject in more detail in an upcoming post, including some of my own experiences and observations.
Back to Work on Resolve
Meanwhile, work continues here in France as we prepare for the 2027 Mini Transat.
We're spending this week working on Resolve and preparing to put the boat back in the water on Friday. Since launching her in September, we've had an opportunity to begin learning how this new fully foiling prototype performs, but there's still an enormous amount of testing and development ahead.
The next phase is about spending as much time on the water as possible, learning the boat's systems, identifying what needs improvement, and gradually building the reliability and confidence needed to race alone across an ocean.
One of the exciting things about this project is that we're developing something new. There are a lot of questions we won't be able to answer until we get out sailing, and I'm looking forward to continuing that process.
Next Stop: Amsterdam
Next week, Jane and I will be heading to Amsterdam for two major marine industry events: METSTRADE and the Yacht Racing Forum.
METSTRADE is the world's largest marine equipment trade show, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, designers, and companies involved in nearly every aspect of the boating industry. The Yacht Racing Forum focuses more specifically on all aspects of racing with industry leaders sharing knowledge and networking.
These events are important for a campaign like ours. One of the biggest challenges in offshore racing is securing the financial and technical support necessary to compete at a high level. Unlike many traditional sports, I'm responsible not only for preparing myself and racing the boat, but also for managing the project, working with sponsors, coordinating suppliers, and raising the funding needed to reach the starting line.
Much of that comes down to relationships. Meeting people face-to-face, learning about their businesses, and finding opportunities to work together can make an enormous difference. Some of our most valuable partnerships have grown from conversations that began with a shared interest in sailing or technology.
I'm looking forward to reconnecting with our existing partners, meeting new people, and exploring opportunities that could help us continue developing Resolve and building the campaign toward 2027.
A Final Thank You
As I reflect on Veterans Day from here in France, I'm reminded how fortunate I am to be a part of the Marine Corps and to remain connected to the veteran community. I will make sure to keep this in mind as I prepare to put the uniform back on in January to complete my annual reserve service obligation.
To everyone who has served, thank you for your service and the commitments you've made, often at considerable personal and family cost. To the families who have supported them, thank you as well.
And to the veterans who continue to give back to their communities, whether through organizations like U.S. Patriot Sailing or in countless other ways, thank you for continuing to make a difference.
I'm grateful for the friendships, experiences, and opportunities that military service has brought into my life, and for the chance to carry some of those connections forward through sailing.
Happy Veterans Day, and Semper Fidelis.
-Peter
On the Wind Podcast
Check out my most recent interview with the On the Wind Podcast by 59° North Sailing, one of the world's largest and longest-running sailing podcasts.
This is my third time joining Andy Schell, and we dive into why I launched this new campaign, the process of building Resolve, and what it was like to finally get the boat sailing.
If you want to explore my previous two episodes with Andy, you can find them here with all my podcast interviews.
Are you following this campaign on social media?
Give this campaign a follow on Instagram and Facebook! Like the videos, leave a comment, and share them with friends to help spread the word about this campaign. Thank you!
There's still a tremendous amount of work ahead as we focus on fundraising, boat preparations, and sailing.
Please remember, none of this would be possible without the companies and individuals who have already stepped forward to support the campaign.
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.
Also listen to my interview with the team at Bar Karate in Australia where we discuss the 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?
