Programs

Vela Foundation programs operate at the interface of mapped and unmapped cultural terrain.

Motivation

Sailing brings out the best in us. It calls forth the noblest elements of our humanity: our care for one another, our lucid perception of the world around us, our gentle hearts opening to a reality beyond words. But what then? The world is a lively place, and just sailing around feeling groovy is a pretty insufficient expression of our greater capacities. Thus we are moved to ask:

What kinds of meaningful activities can we pursue on sailboats and in the uniquely remote locations which they can reach?
What kinds of activities might be especially amplified in this context?
What singular gifts can sailors offer to the world?

Development

We design and conduct our programs as expressions of our central values. Our activities can thus be clustered into three primary areas of endeavor.

Given our current early stage of growth, it's not yet feasible to describe future programs in detail. We can, however, imagine some possibilities.

Value	Example Programs
Kindness	Itinerant medical clinic & lab Refugee transport Marine medical training Cargo transport (charitable/humanitarian goods)
Wisdom	Think tanks, seminars, conferences, roundtables, workshops Scientific research expeditions Island permaculture Cargo transport (commodity/commercial goods)
Grace	Transformative adventures Artistic residencies, tours, collaborations Freediving expeditions Cultural exchange expeditions

Why Sailing?

The ancient pursuits of seamanship and navigation are perhaps the most exquisite of human endeavors. The challenges we find at sea are complex, continually emergent, and potentially life-threatening; thus they summon a remarkable cross-section of our highest potentials. Engagement with this body of practical knowledge pushes the limits of a group’s capacity, forging antifragile and effective teams. It binds shipmates into cohesion, integrating individual and collective responsibility.

Sailing is also great fun. At its best, it encompasses not only focused social intimacy, but an experience of the natural world at a level of immediacy rarely encountered under other circumstances. A sailing voyage can and should be an experience of bountiful essentials: shared home-cooked meals, music, conversation, swimming, stargazing, silence, sunrises, sunsets, creatures wild and free. A happy ship is the happiest of all possible places.

Imagine a crew who relate to one another with kindness, who meet enormous challenges with skillful wisdom, who enjoy the ineffable grace of life with blissful enthusiasm. These people can fulfill great works.