Navigating toward the light from the depths of obscurity
Getting out on the water isn't just about boats or competition for Vanessa Weedon-Jones—it's a lifeline that's led her from darkness into purpose. Now in her sixties and a highly respected volunteer, instructor, and advocate for inclusion, her story is a powerful demonstration of sailing's mental health benefits.
Her journey into sailing began early, but it wasn't until life hurled her off course that she discovered the deeper power of navigating the seas. In the mid-90s, Vanessa faced a rough patch, battling severe depression and spending time in the hospital. Everything changed when she was given the opportunity to attend a free dinghy instructor course in Exmoor.
"I went and did that," Vanessa recalled, "and sort of life turned around after that because I could see that there was a different career path to be had."
Transitioning from her desk job in advertising to the great outdoors was transformative. "It took me into the outdoors," she shared. "It took me meeting people. It took me to helping people." And it helped her too. Sailing became not only a new career focus for her but a personal sanctuary. "When you're sailing, you can't think about anything else because your boat will capsize if you do. It's a really good way of getting away from everything and just being able to relax your brain."
With a newfound conviction in sailing's restorative power, Vanessa didn't just want to teach people to sail—she wanted to provide others with a space where they could breathe, focus, and grow in confidence. This empathetic approach has been particularly important in her work with groups who might otherwise feel excluded from the sport.
Modern research indicates that spending time on or near water comes with several mental health benefits—reducing cortisol levels (the body's primary stress hormone), increasing serotonin levels (a neurotransmitter that aids in mood regulation), and fostering self-awareness, stress relief, inner pleasure, and social connections[1][5][4]. Activities like sailing encourage a state of "flow" or complete immersion in the present moment, which can be deeply therapeutic [6].
Looking back, Vanessa knows how vital sailing has been in her life. It offered the structure she needed when she was lost and a purpose when she felt hopeless. Today, she witnesses its impact on others in much the same way—from the quiet satisfaction of a first solo sail to the visible boost in confidence as someone masters a new skill. For Vanessa, the allure of sailing lies not just in the sport itself, but in the freedom and self-belief it can bring back.
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/gps.4591[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/str.492[3] https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/hubl/32/2/article-p163.xml[4] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325161[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3499303/[6] https://www.verywellmind.com/flow-the-psychology-of-optimal-experience-4174384
- Vanessa Weedon-Jones, a champion of mental health and wellness, found solace in sailing during her struggles with depression, discovering that the sport not only provided her with a career path but also served as a personal sanctuary, promoting stress relief and self-awareness.
- As a strong advocate for fitness and exercise, Vanessa continually emphasizes the immense mental health benefits associated with sailing, citing scientific research indicating that time spent on or near water fosters emotional well-being, increases serotonin levels, reduces cortisol levels, and encourages a state of flow.
