VALLEJO, Calif. — During the Memorial Day weekend, Kauai Sea Scouts who weren’t participating in a California regatta received a special tour aboard the California Maritime Academy’s Training Ship Golden Bear while it was moored at Nawiliwili Harbor for the second stop of its summer cruise.
Across the Pacific Ocean, six Sea Scouts from Ship 11 out of Kapaa and Ship 12 out of Port Allen competed against hundreds of other Sea Scouts at the Ancient Mariners Regatta at the academy in Vallejo, Calif., said Tom Worthen, a Sea Scout leader.
“The Ancient Mariners Regatta is an annual Sea Scout Competition and is the largest regatta on the West Coast,” he said. “At the end of the competition, the Kauai scouts received the second highest ranking in the competition by achieving qualifying scores in first aid, swimming, compass and relative bearing, bosun chair, semaphore, international code flags, and ship knots.”
“During the marine distress event, the Kauai Sea Scouts achieved the highest ranking at the competition by taking first place,” Worthen said. “To give you an idea of the nature of the competition, to qualify in swimming, it is three seconds slower than qualifying for the Olympics.”
Worthen said the trip to California was made possible through donations from Holo Holo Charters and Island Comfort Heating and Air Conditions.
“The Kauai Sea Scouts have been growing and recently acquired a new 44-foot boat so more scouts can be involved in cruises,” Worthen said. “To help outfit the boat with new engines, Capt. Andy’s Charters has committed $10,000 if that amount can be matched by June 30.”
Anyone wishing to support the Kauai Sea Scouts can help match Capt. Andy’s donation by visiting kauaiseascouts.org/donate.
Youth ages 12 through 18 can join the Sea Scouts with Ship 11 meeting in Kapaa, and Ship 12 meeting in Hanapepe/Port Allen.
For more information, call Worthen at 435-994-0023.
