For the outreach sails we have two tracks of partner groups: Disadvantaged youth and adults dealing with stresses beyond the norm. The youth groups include: Boys and Girls’ Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Seastars Aquatics (swimmers with disabilities), FSU CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities). Each of these groups receives a STEM lesson prior to the sail, with hands-on lessons to follow during the sail. These groups learn in an exciting environment, under sail, that they can understand the science of waves, wind and currents, and the technology of the instruments and navigation. They learn that if they can steer a big sailboat, they can take control and steer their own path for a better tomorrow.

Adult groups include Dose of the Coast (families with a member that has a cancer diagnosis), wounded warriors, and in the past year the addition of The Order of the Purple Heart, Argos for Autism (local university students with autism diagnoses), and Oncology Nurses. For these groups Satori’s outreach sails offer a time of peace and well-being. There is increasing awareness of the physiology behind the feelings invoked while sailing on salt water. The science shows increased oxygen absorption bringing about more balanced serotonin levels. These benefits of sailing have been successfully realized through sailing rehab programs for veterans with PTSD. Each of our adult groups deals with an extraordinary level of stress in their lives. Sailing is our way of offering a place of peace to destress and recharge and the best way we know to thank veterans and front-line workers for their service.