WHOW Magazine Pre-Tournament Issue by loanDepot

SEPTEMBER 2021

WHOW BECOMES LARGEST NONPROFIT SPORTFISHING TOURNAMENT IN THE US Veterans Join Forces for Healing War Heroes and the Brotherhood

FOLLOW ALL THE WHOW TOURNAMENT ACTION SATURDAY, OCT. 2 | COVERAGE BEGINS 1:40PM PT

• WATCH AS TOURNAMENT FLAGSHIP YACHT BAD COMPANY 144 DEPARTS FOR THE BOAT PARADE • ENJOY THE CELEBRATORY SEND-OFF AS EACH VETERAN TEAM BOARDS THEIR YACHTS • WATCH THE PATRIOTIC BOAT PARADE MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH NEWPORT HARBOR

MONDAY, OCT. 4 | COVERAGE BEGINS 5PM PT

• FISH WEIGH-IN FROM CATALINA’S ICONIC GREEN PLEASURE PIER

DON’T MISS A MINUTE. FOLLOW THE LIVESTREAM ACTION ON

WWW.WARHEROESONWATER.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

NOTE FROM OUR TOURNAMENT FOUNDER

VETERANS JOIN FORCES FOR HEALING Veteran Spotlight: Robert Barta

FLEET SPOTLIGHT: SURLY MERMAID

TIMING IS EVERYTHING Rod on the Water

WAR HEROES AND THE BROTHERHOOD Josh Miles, Freedom Alliance - Director of Military and Charitable Programs

LET’S TALK FLAGS

JOIN THE 2021 BOAT PARADE

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 SPONSORS

NOTE FROM OUR TOURNAMENT FOUNDER: With more than $1.1M raised so far this year, the War Heroes on Water Sportfishing Tournament has grown to become the largest nonprofit tournament of its kind in the United States. This achievement humbles me beyond words. We could not have attained this important milestone without all of the support we received from our yacht owners, captains and crews, as well as our sponsors, donors and volunteers. The way all of you have rallied to the challenge of giving our combat-wounded veterans a once-in-a-lifetime experience is breathtaking. As Drew Mewes, a three-time WHOW attendee and Top Angler in the 2020 Reunion Tournament winner shared with me, “WHOW has helped me more than I could have ever anticipated. It has truly changed my life. The Tournament—and the people who are participating in it and the people who are there to support it—make all the difference.” Back in 2017, when I first envisioned this Tournament, I couldn’t have imagined this outcome. At that time, my goal was simple: to host a small group of veterans and show them a fun-filled weekend of Cabo-style fishing. Their profound appreciation for the weekend—and the event—set in motion what would become the first War Heroes on Water Tournament. Since then, we have held three Tournaments and hosted a total of 104 veterans from all parts of the country. This year, we will host 100 veterans— nearly as many as the first three Tournaments combined—to give them a hero’s welcome and three adventure-filled days at sea. We could not have achieved this goal without the love and support of every person involved with this Tournament. In addition to tripling the number of veterans in attendance, this year’s event will feature a variety of new and memorable elements, including livestreams of the Boat Parade and of the post-Tournament fish weighins on Catalina’s iconic Green Pier. Follow all of the Tournament action at warheroesonwater.com. Finally, to every member of the WHOW family—and that includes our yacht owners, captains, sponsors, donors and volunteers—thank you. Anthony

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VETERAN SPOTLIGHT: ROBERT BARTA

BATTLE BUDDIES JOIN FORCES AND FORGE FOREVER BONDS Veteran Robert Barta returns for his third WHOW Tournament

The 2021 WHOW Tournament is quickly approaching, but it can’t arrive soon enough for US Army Veteran Robert Barta. “I am beyond excited,” he explains. “It’s such a joy to see fellow veterans and the captains and the crews. And everyone immediately makes you feel at home.” Robert is familiar with the unique experience that the WHOW Tournament provides, having been a participant in both the 2019 and 2020 events. This year, he will be reunited with Scotty Walling, who introduced him to WHOW’s charitable partner, Freedom Alliance, and with whom he teamed up in the 2019 Tournament aboard the Dialed Inn. “Scotty and I are good friends, and I cannot wait to see him again,” adds Robert. “And, this

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year, we’ll also be joined by another battle buddy, Jason.” The three veterans share similar experiences, having served as combat engineers in Afghanistan. It will be a very special reunion. The men live far apart and are not able to regularly see one another. This WHOW event not only brings them together, but introduces them to other veterans who share one important life experience: combat in service of our country. “This event is unlike anything else,” explains Robert. “When we initially arrive, the thing that makes me most nervous is remembering everyone’s names. But, in no time, we’re all talking—all helping each other. We understand each other—we understand what we’ve all been through.” Almost instantly, the healing begins.

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Being a catalyst for healing is the Tournament’s main goal. It begins through the simple act of bringing veterans together from across the country for a special weekend during which they are acknowledged and honored for their service. It grows over the days spent together on the open ocean, talking with fellow veterans about shared experiences. And it flourishes as the veteran teams learn the skills unique to sportfishing. By the Tournament’s end, old friendships have been rekindled, new ones have been created, and an enduring support system has been established. Many of the veteran participants have never fished; Robert is one of the few who has.

Robert, who is naturally curious, says his favorite spot on the boat is up with the captains. “I like talking electronics and learning how everything on the boat works. I’m also really impressed by how the captains share their knowledge of the ocean. They know just where the fish are—and they are always right— that’s where the fish are.” For Robert, the vastness of the ocean also brings him peace. “When I’m on land, I like riding long distances on my motorcycle. Over the course of the weekend, we cover a lot of ocean. It’s like an air motorcycle. During the Tournament, your country is that boat.” He is also extremely humbled by the event, and the time taken by everyone who is involved with the WHOW Tournament.

“My fishing looks very different from what we do over the course of the Tournament,” he explains. “I fish once a week in a farm pond. Deep sea fishing is very different, but the captains and crews make it an amazing experience from the moment we get on board.”

“I know everyone works so hard to make this special for us,” he shares. “And Anthony is so dedicated to us—to make all of this happen.”

He adds, “It’s so impressive how hard the skippers and crews work for you. They are constantly in motion, sharing their knowledge of the ocean and helping us learn new skills.”

For Robert, and for all of the participating veterans, the Tournament is a once-in-lifetime experience that creates memories that are as golden as “the way every veteran is treated.”

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FLEET SPOTLIGHT: SURLY MERMAID

A DAY ON THE WATER GIVES YOU A WHOLE NEW LOOK ON LIFE Owner Ali Palmer Johnson and the Surly Mermaid make their WHOW debut with first all-female team

Surly Mermaid is ready to take her place at the 2021 WHOW Sportfishing Tournament. Ali Palmer Johnson, a proud WHOW supporter and donor since the Tournament’s inception couldn’t be more excited to participate. “I learned about the WHOW Tournament from (Tournament Director) Rod Halperin. He called and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this wonderful Tournament that we put on for veterans. I think you’ll be very interested in it.’ Of course, I was intrigued,” Ali recalls. “Then, when I was asked if I wanted to host an all-female veteran team, I was absolutely ecstatic.” Ali has been fishing most of her life. “I started fishing at a young age off our local pier, then later became passionate about salmon fishing and fly fishing. Back in the 90s, my family decided to buy a boat and promised that, hey, Ali, if we get a boat, you can go fishing on it. So, of course, I was sold. And that’s when my passion for offshore fishing really kicked in. Since then, I’ve been through several different types of boats, and, to this day, it’s what I truly love to do.”

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Ali’s boat, the Surly Mermaid, a 39’ Tiara Convertible, is ideal for this year’s Tournament, which has expanded to include two-person veteran teams. And, for Ali, the Tournament’s first-ever all-female team.

“Tracy’s an accomplished angler and we’ve fished together many, many times,” says Ali. “Plus, she’s super positive and energetic. I think our veterans are going to love spending time with her in the cockpit.”

“I can’t wait to show them what it’s like on the ocean. A day on the water gives you a whole new outlook on life. When we leave the dock to go on a fishing trip you don’t know what you’re going to find. My favorite type of fishing, aside from targeting marlin, is kelp paddy fishing, because when you come across a kelp paddy, you don’t know what’s underneath it. It could be dorado. It could be yellow tail. It could be tuna. I’ve seen wahoo. Every day is different.”

One of things Ali is most looking forward to in her first WHOW Tournament is making her veteran team feel at ease. “Getting out on the water is very therapeutic,” she says. “You forget your stresses and problems and just enjoy the beauty of the ocean. Plus, there’s the adrenaline rush whenever a fish takes your bait and the reel starts screaming—I love to share that experience.” When asked how the Surly Mermaid got her name, Ali laughs. She then relayed the story of how her twin boys were watching “Finding Nemo” and that there was a scene where a boat was docked in Sydney Harbor and her son noticed its name: Surly Mermaid. “I chose it, but they get all the credit,” she adds proudly.

Adds Ali, “Sometimes, you have a whale erupt right next to your boat. Sometimes you go through a pod of dolphins. It’s just aweinspiring and it puts a big smile on your face. That’s what I’m hoping to share with my team. It’s not just the fishing, it’s the experience, the camaraderie and sharing something you love to do so passionately with someone who hasn’t experienced it before.”

As the Tournament approaches, Ali is carefully preparing her boat to deliver exceptional fishing—and outstanding memories.

Ali will be accompanied by Tracy Decker, an accomplished angler who is also the wife of renowned fisherman Jimmy Decker. Ali and Tracy share a hands-on fishing style that they describe as “lean and mean.” Together, they will make sure that the veterans have everything they need to feel comfortable with the sport.

She adds, “This Tournament features the best captains on the West Coast, so there will be a lot of great fishing. But this isn’t about winning a fishing Tournament. It’s about creating experiences and sharing our joy and love of the ocean—and fishing—with these brave heroes.”

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ROD ON THE WATER

TIMING IS EVERYTHING ROD HALPERIN — TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

Here we are, just weeks away from 2021 WHOW, and while there are still a lot of details to button up before we launch the event, it feels like our timing is just right. The windy weather that has been hampering the offshore scene seems to be letting up. The first pulse of tropical weather has pushed a lot of warm water exotics into our area. Events around the globe have sparked a renewed sense of appreciation for our military veterans from many Americans. Together, each of these components are stacking up to make 2021 one for the record books. When it comes to a fishing tournament, Mother Nature is the boss. For months, there have been huge schools of bluefin up and down the coast, mostly willing to bite. The challenge has been picking a day to fish where the prevailing westerly wind wouldn’t blow you off the water, or at least make for a wet and bumpy day at sea. Not ideal conditions for hosting a fishing tournament where timing is dictated by the calendar, not the weather forecast. Recently, things have changed, and we are seeing more days of light wind and a flat ocean. With luck, the pattern will hold, and we’ll be blessed with calm seas, light wind and some current at the islands to help the fish bite. Along with the shift in the wind pattern, we got our first pulse of tropical weather, bringing with it a big south swell and lots of the desirable exotic fish species. In addition to the steady action on bluefin tuna, big yellowtail have taken up residency at the offshore islands. Huge schools of dorado have invaded the offshore scene and have been willing to bite. Reports of yellowfin tuna moving up the line, and marlin filling into the zone are all promising indicators for some excellent fishing for our vets when they hit the water early October. We should have plenty of exciting action at the scales on the green pier in Avalon come weigh-in time. (Watch it live this year!)* 14

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While nice weather and good fishing are a dream for a fishing tournament, WHOW is much more than that. Fishing is secondary to our mission, which, first and foremost, is supporting our combat-wounded veterans as they recover from the visible and invisible wounds of battle. Many veterans are struggling right now. Nearly two years of COVID restrictions, plus upsetting developments in the Middle East and elsewhere have been piled upon an already challenging situation for many of our vets. If ever there was a time to show them extra support, it is right now, and WHOW is delivering. On the Tournament side, nearly 40 yachts have volunteered to host veterans this year, with all their operating costs covered by the generous owners willing to offer up their pride and joy for the Tournament. This more than doubles the yachts from any previous Tournament. Our boat parade through Newport Harbor on Saturday, October 2 is shaping up to be spectacular, and our hope is to see more than 100 boats of all shapes and sizes join us.

Fundraising is a cornerstone of WHOW; to date WHOW has generated over $1.1 million in donations from nearly 1,000 donors – and we are not done yet. As WHOW Tournament Director, my goal is to ensure the veteran community feels the love and support from our community, and our philanthropic partner Freedom Alliance receives the resources it needs to assist them in so many important ways. We hope to be blessed with nice weather and good fishing. Time will tell on that front. We have doubled our fleet of participating yachts. We have made great progress in raising money from a wide swath of folks who appreciate the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans. If you are reading this and have not yet donated, there has never been a better time than right now to put your money where your heart is. If you feel compelled to support WHOW, please donate today.

*Follow the Avalon weigh-in action live on our website at: www.warheroesonwater.com. Live feed programming details will be posted ahead of the action. 16

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FREEDOM ALLIANCE

WAR HEROES AND THE BROTHERHOOD JOSH MILES — DIRECTOR OF MILITARY AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS

When we went to war, some of us more than 20 years ago, it was before many of us could legally drink a beer. We joined for pride, adventure, to avenge the attacks on our country, or a bevy of other motives. Regardless of our reasons, we deployed to some of the most dangerous locations in the world. We were forged in combat and became warriors with a common purpose and a dedication to one another. When bullets were flying or bombs were exploding during a mission, we knew we could count on each other, like family. When we returned from war, many of us were changed—physically, mentally, or emotionally—and so, too, was our life’s journey. We left a mission of profound importance and came home to a life that seemed to lack purpose. Many of us have felt lost at times since returning home, and we’ve grieved the deaths of our comrades after we rejoined the “regular world.” Often, we feel we cannot connect with those around us, those in our communities, sometimes even our own spouses and children. But, through it all, our families are our rock and our brothers and sisters in arms are an extension of our family. When you see veterans who have spilled the same blood in the same mud connect, there is an unbreakable bond, trust and a love that exists from shared experiences in war.

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The truth is we have a new mission now—we are elder warriors in our community. We have an opportunity to share our experiences, when we can, both with our brothers and sisters in arms and with those civilians among us. Many of us used to think that civilians could not understand what we have gone through. How could they possibly? But then we came to War Heroes on Water (WHOW). Not only did we connect with our fellow warriors, but also with what would become a new part of our family, the WHOW community. These boat owners, captains, crews, supporters and employees of the loanDepot team have become a special family to many of us. They take us out on their boats, give us their time, treasure, love and expertise. On the boat you really get to know each other and enjoy authentic conversations. One warrior told me “when you are on a boat for a couple days, you have no choice but to cut through the BS.” In some of our darkest times, when the wounds of war resurface, it is often one of these folks that we call who is there for us when we need them the most. It starts on a boat in the middle of the peaceful and massive ocean where we 20

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hunt some fish and share our experiences. In our new fight to overcome the wounds of war, our WHOW friends are with us. When you drop a line off the back of the boat during the tournament, it causes a ripple in the ocean that radiates outward. This tournament not only helps those warriors who are having a life-changing experience on the boats, it ripples out through the veteran community. More and more veterans feel empowered to come forward, to take the next step toward healing after seeing their fellow warriors at WHOW and hearing the impact WHOW has had on them. The generosity of those who give to this cause extends to therapeutic healing retreats and family support for hundreds of other veterans throughout the year. We could not do all that we do for our veterans without this generosity and without the ripples that emanate from the events that take place during War Heroes on Water. This effort helps change lives; this effort helps save lives. Josh Miles is the Director of Military & Charitable Programs at Freedom Alliance. He is a combat veteran and a retired GySgt, having served 16 years as a United States Marine.

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WHOW TOURNAMENT:

LET’S TALK FLAGS What’s flying—and why—on the WHOW fleet Over the Tournament weekend, you’ll see the WHOW fleet flying a variety of flags. Here’s a handy guide to what you may see and what it represents:

United States Ensign (a.k.a. The American Flag) Every member of the Tournament fleet will be flying the American flag throughout the event. Protocol calls for the flag to be flown either as the furthest aft, or on the Port side halyard or outrigger.

Military Branch Ensigns Many of the WHOW fleet will be flying the ensigns of the military branch of the veterans they are hosting. Army, Navy, Air Force Marine Corps veterans will all be represented aboard our fleet, with many carrying veterans across multiple services. Most fleet members will fly these from the outriggers below the American Flag.

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Club Burgees Many of our WHOW fleet members also are members of local fishing or yacht clubs. Each of these clubs has a specific flag or burgee, which are typically small, triangularshaped flags flown from the bow on sportfishing yachts. Fishing clubs represented by the WHOW fleet include: the Tuna Club of Avalon, Balboa Angling Club, Dana Angling Club, and the Huntington Harbor Rod and Reel Club. Many WHOW fleet members also are members of yacht clubs such as the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Dana Point Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club. Catch Flags When returning to port or anchorage after a day of fishing, sportfishing yachts will often fly catch flags representing some of the notable species they caught that day or during their excursion. Good ones to be looking for include: Marlin (blue flag with white fish), Swordfish (Red and Blue flag with white fish), Tuna (white flag with blue fish) and Dorado (yellow flag with blue fish). If a fish is released, a small red triangle flag with a white “T” will indicate released fish.

WHOW Tournament Flags These flags are available only to WHOW Tournament yachts, and feature unique color schemes for each year of the Tournament. For example, the 2018 WHOW flags were red with a white WHOW logo; 2019 was blue with a white WHOW logo; and 2020 was red with a blue WHOW logo. The 2021 WHOW Tournament flag is blue with a white WHOW logo with the year, “2021,” added. Tournament flags are treasured keepsakes and mementos for the WHOW fleet, and serve as a reminder of a memorable weekend on the water with our veterans.

You can test your newfound flag knowledge during the livestream of our Boat Parade on Oct. 2 at 5pm PT. You’ll find the details for this and our Catalina Weigh-In Livestream on www.warheroesonwater.com WHOW MAGAZINE

WHOW 2021 KICKOFF

JOIN THE 2021 BOAT PARADE Saturday, October 2

Boat line-up: 4:30pm | National Anthem: 5pm

If you’re in the Newport Beach area on Sat., Oct. 2, please join us for our second annual War Heroes on Water Boat Parade. This unforgettable event is our chance to celebrate our veterans and share our deep appreciation for their service. Whether you’re cheering from the water—or waving flags on land— this beautiful celebration is a powerful moment that is not to be missed. It’s not too late to be IN the parade. Big boats, little boats, dinghies, you name it—the more the merrier! Register here to enter your boat today! All registered participants will receive a commemorative War Heroes on Water Tournament Flag that you can prominently display during the event—and beyond. Great public viewing access is identified in ORANGE on the boat parade map. SoCal locals: Head to Lido Isle, find a spot and cheer on our veterans!

PARKING

PUBLIC VIEWING

TO OUR WHOW 2021 TOURNAMENT SPONSORS AND IN-KIND DONORS PRESENTING SPONSORS

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY

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PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

STAR SPONSORS

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WARHEROESONWATER.COM

WHOW raises funds in coordination with our partner philanthropic organization, Freedom Alliance. Freedom Alliance is recognized by the IRS as a public charity organized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. 21-PHL-0051