The WHOW 2021 Tournament included two all-female veteran teams, including Samantha Simonds, aboard the Surly Mermaid, pictured here with a rockfish.

Veteran Vanessa Brown is greeted by WHOW Tournament Founder and loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh. The 2021 WHOW tournament is the first WHOW event that included two all-female combat-wounded teams.

Veterans Samantha Simonds, Robin Baker and Mea Peterson are joined by Surly Mermaid Owner Ali Palmer Johnson (far right) and Captain Traci Decker.

Veterans Vanessa Brown and Mea Peterson enjoyed their time aboard the El Cazador. Their tournament catches would earn them sixth and seventh place, respectively, in overall tournament points.

As the 38 participating WHOW yachts lined up to pick up their veterans, WHOW Tournament Founder and loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh's excitement was palpable—the first yacht to reach his...

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WHOW Tournament Founder and loanDepot CEO Anthony Hsieh personally sent off each of the 38 participating tournament yachts ahead of the tournament launch. He closed the tournament with a similar personal yacht-by-yacht acknowledgement. (photo credit: Pepper Ailor)

Team Tangler shows off their tournament catch.The WHOW Tournament is scored in such a way that every team can develop their own unique strategy for making it to the podium. Added veteran Jason Walker, “Being able to get out in nature, with my restrictions, is comforting.”

One of the WHOW tournament’s highlights is the annual post-event group photo. Featuring a record-setting number of veterans, owners, captains and crews, this year’s photo required significant height to ensure everyone could make it into the frame.

The WHOW Tournament is scored in such a way that every team can develop their own unique strategy for making it to the podium. (photo credit: Pepper Ailor)

Team Janice O brought three +100 lb. tuna to Avalon’s historic Green Pleasure Pier.

Veteran Jason Walker, on Team Tangler, enjoyed the opportunity to get out on the open ocean. He added,“Being able to get out in nature, with my restrictions, is comforting.”

Many participating veterans have no deep-sea fishing experience prior to the WHOW tournament. The owners, captains and crews of each boat look forward to sharing their fishing knowledge and to creating exceptional memories for their veteran teams. (photo credit: Pepper Ailor)

The Tournament’s three Ron Ashimine Award winners share the WHOW awards stage. The award is bestowed upon the tournament’s top angler, which is determined based on total points. From left, Drew Mewes (2020), Larry Draughn (2021) and Kaleb Weakley (2019).

WHOW participants come from all branches of the military. Each year, some of the prior year’s participants return to serve as “veteran” veterans to ensure a seamless experience while on the water.

One by one, WHOW Tournament Founder and loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh personally sent off each of the 38 participating WHOW yachts from his dock in preparation for the 2021 WHOW...

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The 2021 War Heroes on Water sportfishing tournament, now the largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament in the U.S., celebrated 100 combat-wounded veterans across five days. The event is designed to provide therapeutic support as veterans heal from the physical, emotional and moral wounds of battle.

Says War Heroes on Water Tournament Founder and loanDepot CEO Anthony Hsieh, “There’s nothing else that I’ve done in my life that has had more of a human-to-human impact.”

Dozens of the finest sportfishing yachts on the West Coast participated in the recent War Heroes on Water sportfishing tournament. The event, which began with a patriotic boat parade through Newport Harbor, featured 38 yachts with 100 combat-wounded veterans aboard.

A lifelong sportfishing enthusiast, War Heroes on Water Tournament Founder and loanDepot CEO Anthony Hsieh is deeply connected to the West Coast sportfishing community, and proudly and personally helped to send off all 38 Tournament yachts.

On Monday, October 4, 2021, thirty-eight of the West Coast's finest sportfishing vessels, led by WHOW tournament founder and loanDepot Founder/CEO Anthony Hsieh, lined up to create a mile-plus...

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On Saturday, October 2, 2021, the fourth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) sportfishing tournament will kick-off its largest tournament to-date by every measure—number of participating veterans,...

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loanDepot, Inc. (the "Company," NYSE: "LDI," together with its subsidiaries, "loanDepot") today announced that it has declared a regular cash dividend of $0.08 per share on its Class A common...

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With more than $1.1 million raised so far this year, War Heroes on Water (WHOW), the landmark Southern California sportfishing tournament that helps combat-wounded veterans recover from the...

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Rousing Newport Harbor Boat Parade Kicks Off 2021 War Heroes on Water Sportfishing Tournament

WHAT: War Heroes on Water (WHOW) will return this October for its fourth straight year with a competitive sportfishing tournament off the coast of Southern California benefiting combat-wounded...

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