Tessa Ramsey is only 14 years old, but had the adventure of a lifetime during the recent Sea Scouts cruise. Ramsey was with her group of two adults and eight Sea Scouts off Molokai when she was involved in rescuing
Tessa Ramsey is only 14 years old, but had the adventure of a lifetime during the recent Sea Scouts cruise.
Ramsey was with her group of two adults and eight Sea Scouts off Molokai when she was involved in rescuing three people.
“We were at anchor off Molokai when a passing boat with three people on board lost power and started drifting into the reef,” said Larry Richardson, the Sea Scouts’ commodore. “Although their lives were not in immediate danger, the situation was deteriorating rapidly as they got closer to the reef.”
Ramsey saw what needed to be done and reacted.
“She donned a life jacket, boarded our dinghy, rowed over to the trio, applied a tow rope, and towed them to safety,” Richardson said. “Yes, she towed them with a row boat!”
Richardson said, not only did the 14-year-old Sea Scout pull the trio out of danger — she towed them to the dock.
“The dock was about a quarter of a mile away,” Richardson said. “That is an impressive distance to simply row, but to do so with a vessel in tow is extraordinary.”
Richardson said he is planning on nominating her for the Boy Scouts of America’s Award of Merit for her actions in the rescue.
The incident is only one of the adventures enjoyed by the Sea Scouts who took part in a 14-day journey covering nearly 400 nautical miles and visiting three islands — Kauai, Oahu and Molokai.
Richardson said the recent cruise was the second one of the summer, the first taking place in June over 10 days and covering 200 nautical miles circumnavigating both Kauai and Niihau.
The Sea Scout program, formerly covered under the Kauai Police Activities League, is continuing to grow, Richardson said. The Sea Scout program is a part of the Boy Scouts of America Sea Scouting program, Aloha Council, and is open to youth up to 18 years old.
“During August, we will be starting a new unit for kids on the Westside for Waimea High School,” Richardson said.
