Marine Corps veteran Amy Pantoja, who sails out of Annapolis, lives aboard her 48-foot sailboat and is an active volunteer with Valhalla Sailing as well as a member of its board of directors. Passionate about helping women veterans, Amy is enthusiastic about teaching others to sail so they too can enjoy the freedom and healing the sport has given her. Here Amy shares in her own words how she started sailing and her big plans for the future.
Sailing opened the door to a new chapter:
Amy: After parenting alone for 19 years, once my daughter was grown and on her own, I suddenly felt lost. I had no identity, no purpose. On top of that, I never truly felt like I fit in anywhere—not as a veteran, and especially not as a female veteran.
I didn’t have hobbies, and, honestly, I didn’t even know what I enjoyed anymore. I had always dreamed of sailing, maybe even sailing around the world one day, but I had no idea where to start. I also wanted to get back into diving, something that had once brought me peace and joy.
So, I did just that. I went out, renewed my dive certification (and added a few extras), and learned to sail. I started with SailTime and the First Sail Workshop at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. While I was inside the show, I discovered Valhalla, a veteran sailing organization, and started sailing with them. Before long, it was rare to find a Valhalla boat leaving the dock without me on it.
Through Valhalla, I was introduced to Warrior Sailing, another veteran group, where I earned certifications and took a systems class.
Sailing and diving have both literally and figuratively saved my life. They’ve helped me rediscover who I am, given me purpose again, and opened the door to an incredible new chapter filled with adventure, healing, and freedom.
Where action meets adrenaline
My favorite position while racing is doing bow. There’s no place I’d rather be. While I’m able to trim, run main, work mast and pit, or even take the helm, I’ll always choose bow when given the chance. The bow is where action meets adrenaline. It’s the front line: the first to meet the spray, the waves, and the wind. Every maneuver happens fast, whether it’s setting and dropping sails, timing spinnaker hoists, or calling the line at the start. You have to stay sharp, balanced, and fearless.
There’s nothing quite like standing at the edge of the boat, the sea rushing beneath you, knowing your precision and timing can make or break a perfect set. It’s intense, chaotic, and completely exhilarating. For me, the bow isn’t just a position; it’s where I feel most alive.
Women’s program at Valhalla
Many women veterans struggle to find spaces where they feel safe and included after leaving the military. Too often, veteran programs are male dominated, leaving women feeling unseen or unheard. I wanted to change that.
I wanted to create a space on the water where women veterans can breathe, connect, and heal—a space built on trust, understanding, and calm. With Valhalla I’ve introduced a Ladies Night instructional sail, and on the racing front, this year I brought 24 women, including 12 veterans, in three boats to the Herrington Harbour Women’s Regatta. I also want to create more cruising opportunities for women, because when we sail together, walls come down. Women rediscover confidence, share laughter, and find peace in the rhythm of the wind and waves. For many, it’s the first time they’ve truly felt supported in a veteran community. It’s more than sailing; it’s about reclaiming strength, belonging, and joy.
Plans to explore the world by sailboat
Next year, I plan to lift anchor and set sail to explore the world, living the cruising lifestyle for as long as my body and health allow. Earlier this year, I took a big step toward that dream, purchasing, through Warrior Sailing, a Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 and moving aboard. Now I am living at anchor to learn the rhythms of life at sea.
From tropical islands to the icy edges of Greenland and Antarctica, I can’t wait to experience it all—the freedom, the challenge, and the quiet beauty that only the ocean can offer.
This journey isn’t just about travel; it’s about living fully, embracing adventure, and proving that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, no matter where they lead.
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