Sea Scouts
WEST PALM BEACH KIDS CAPTURE FIFTH ANNUAL
WILLIAM I KOCH INTERNATIONAL SEA SCOUT CUP
NEW LONDON, CT – Two Florida teenagers won the fifth biennial William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup, beating one of the largest fields ever for Sea Scouts’ most coveted sailing trophy.
Cody Stansky, 16, of Jupiter, Florida and Andrew Britton, 16, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL were awarded the silver trophy at the closing ceremonies held at the Officers Club at the United States Coast Guard Academy, which hosted the week long event.
Stansky and Britton, members of Ship 777, West Palm Beach, FL, defeated Amanda Norris, 14, and Michael Anderson, 16, of Christ Church, New Zealand. Heidi Rittmeyer, 19, and Peter Bied, 14, of Chicago, IL, placed third.
Stansky and Britton have been sailing together since middle school. They recently placed 15th at the 420 North American Sailing Competition in Brant Beach, New Jersey last month. The two teenagers are entering their junior year at the Alexander Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.
Approximately 80 young men and women gathered at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London to compete in the week-long regatta. Sea Scouts from New Zealand, Australia, England, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago sailed against youth from across the United States. The winds were moderate most of the week, averaging 10 to 14 knots, blowing from the south off Long Island Sound before turning light on the final day.
The biennial event is underwritten by William I. Koch, the Palm Beach businessman who successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1992. Other sponsors include West Marine and the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Sea Scouts are divided into two fleets: more experienced sailors compete for the Koch Cup, and a second fleet sails for the Kiwi Cup, a Maori carving donated by New Zealand Sea Scouts. Both trophies are displayed at the Boy Scout Museum in Irving, Texas. This year’s Kiwi Cup was dedicated to former New Zealand Sea Scout and Koch Cup participant Benjamin Carson who was killed in the line of duty while serving in his country’s Air Force.
Abby King, 16, and Barchan Rogers, 19, of St. Petersburg, Florida, won the Kiwi Cup.
“I enjoyed the event a lot,” said Andrew Britton. “The races were well managed. The Coast Guard Academy did a great job.”
Sea Scouts competing in the event selected Jonathan Hall and Jonathan Martin of England as well as Krista Chapin and Karissa Kasper of St. Petersburg, FL for the sportsmanship award.
The event venue, the Seamanship and Sailing Center at the United States Coast Guard Academy is located on the west bank of the Thames River in New London, CT. The center is responsible for the basic sail and seamanship training of the Corps of Cadets, and the coaching and management of the institution’s competitive sailing program.
Sea Scouts is part of the Boy Scouts of America and is open to men and women between the ages of 14 and 21 who learn leadership skills through seamanship.
A Florida sweep: from left, Sea Scout Ship 777 Skipper Andy Flack, Sea Scout Skipper 395 Lawrence Arrington, Abby King, winner of the Kiwi Cup, Cody Stansky, winner of the Koch Cup, Bill Koch, Patrick Arrington, Miami and past Koch Cup winner, Bianca Mesa, Miami, Andrew Britton, winner of the Koch Cup, Andrew Morgan, Curtis Woodworth, Karissa Kasper and Krista Chapin, winners of the Sportsmanship Award, and Barchan Rogers, winner of the Kiwi Cup.
Sea Scouts 2010 National Jamboree Staff
Submitted by Kendall Gross
Boatswain Ship 247
Parker Smith and Kendall Gross
If you went to the 2010 National Jamboree, you might have noticed a booth on Tomas road buzzing with activity. This was the Sea Scout booth, Staffed by Gulf Stream Council’s own Parker Smith of Wellington and Kendall Gross of Delray Beach. Smith and Gross helped spread the word of Sea Scouting to Boy Scouts from all over the country. “A lot of young men and women tell me they are interested in Sea Scouts, but they don’t think there is a ship near them.” Gross said, “But in reality, there are ships all over the United States, even in landlocked states.”
Sea Scouting is a program from the BSA for young men and women ages fourteen to twenty-one. The program was founded in 1912 and is now a part of Venturing. Scouts in a Sea Scout Ship participate in a wide range of activities including sailing, motor boating, fishing, and conservation. Sea Scouting has an advancement track consisting of four ranks: Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and Quartermaster, which is the Eagle Scout equivalent. Quartermaster is so respected that the US Navy gives you a two pay grade promotion just for having it.
Boy Scout contingents, as well as day-visitor Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and family members totaling over fifteen thousand people passed through the Sea Scout booth. While visiting the booth, they could learn about sea scouting, play a sailboat video game, and use a docking simulator or a fire extinguisher simulator. Scouts could also see the Army Corps of Engineers and the Power Squadron, both of whom were allowing scouts to earn patches by completing activities within the booth. On the way out of the booth, scouts were given a yellow safety whistle, and ushered to the scout-built pond where they could navigate a marked channel with R/C pirate ships and speedboats.
Both Smith and Gross put in a lot of work over the fourteen days they were at Fort A.P. Hill. “It was awesome to see the excitement in peoples eyes when they learned that there was a Sea Scout ship in their area” said Smith. “I had a great time.” said Gross “This was my first Jamboree and it was a blast. I was pleased to be able to educate scouts on Sea Scouting.”
If you’re interested in becoming a Sea Scout or just learning more and you live in Boynton Beach or the surrounding areas, Contact SSS 247’s Skipper: Erica Craddock 561-389-8523. If you live elsewhere in Gulf Stream Council, contact Commodore Andy Flack: 561-348-0423.
Thank you to all that stopped by the Sea Scout booth at ScoutFest. Also, thank you to everyone that made it possible to have the event!!
Ahoy All !
Welcome to the Gulf Stream Council's Sea Scout Flotilla. We are spread out and very diverse bunch with many different specialities. Our Ships are involed in so many different activities that it is hard to list them all, but here are a few...SCUBA, powerboating, sailing, fishing and environmental awareness. All Ships place a big emphasis on safety and learining in whatever speciality they choose.
We welcome all young men and women (age 14 - 20) to join in on the the fun and adventure of Sea Scouts. If you like to travel, see and do exciting new things on the water while strengthening your teamwork and leadership skills, then this is the place for you. We would love to see you at an event to check things out.
Most areas in the Gulf Stream Council have a Sea Scout Ship close by. I would be happy to help you find one. (or click on the links below) So, if you are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, drop anchor in one of our ports.
Until we meet again, I wish you fair winds and following seas!!
Andy Flack
Gulf Stream Council Commodore
Skippership777@yahoo.com
561-348-0423
Already in a Crew or Ship, we would love to hear what you are doing. Please submit an article to the Venturing Voice (Venture Crews / Sea Scout Ships) newsletter editor Cathy Smith - cathy@suncoastprograms.com.
Stay informed - join the Gulf Stream Council Venturing group email
To join, send an email to gscbsaventuring-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Once you’ve joined, messages sent to gscbsaventuring@yahoogroups.com will go to everyone on the list! We will be moderating the list to ensure that only legitimate message go out.
While not required, it is a good idea to also obtain a free Yahoo ID to access the full resources of the Yahoo Group, such as files, photos, polls, calendar, etc.
Sea Scouts is a specialized segment of the Venturing program, which was organized to address members' boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage.
Sea Scout units, called "ships," focus on sailing and cruising either sailboats or power vessels. During the boating seasons, Sea Scouts learn to maintain and operate then vessel, with a focus on learning the safe and proper methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to take advantage of wind and tide, and how to drop anchor or approach a dock.
Most ships hold formal meetings conducted in either full dress of work uniforms. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by their own officers. The state safe boating course is also offered by many ships. Occasionally movies are shown, contests between crews are held, or intership visits are arranged.
For more information on Sea Scouting in your area, please call the Council Service Center at (561) 694-8585 or go to the National Sea Scout locator by clicking Sea Scouts - BSA.
Other links to check out:
William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup
Philmont Venturing Training Courses
The Sea Scout Promise:
As a Sea Scout I promise to do my best
To guard against water accidents;
To know the locatin and proper use of the lifesaving devices
on every boat I board;
To be prepared to render aid to those in need;
To seek to preserve the motto of the sea,
Women and children first.
