Sea Scouts Win Top Honors in Bi-State Competition

 

([ Portland], [Or], [04/30/04])— Six local Sea Scout units from the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America, traveled to Fort Flagler State Park near Port Townsend, Washington on an April weekend to participate in the annual Nor’Wester Sea Scout Regatta. Over 149 people attended the regatta, and over 40 Portland youth participants came home winners of the competition. The Sea Scouts units from Portland were: City of Roses, Sunsail, Beaver, Voyageur, DejaVu, Decatur.

Sea Scout Ship City of Roses, sponsored by the Fleet Reserve Association, City of Roses Branch 55, of Portland, Oregon, was the overall winner of this regatta and took home the Nor’Wester Regatta Trophy. City of Roses competed in 21 of 24 events. Of the 21 events entered by City of Roses, the unit won fourteen first places, five second places, and two third places, for their superior training, knowledge and outstanding competitive performance.

In addition, in the 20-year history of the Nor’Wester Area Regatta Trophy, City of Roses has won this prestigious award eight times; more than any other Sea Scout unit. City of Roses received the “Top Rate Clipper Class” award for excellence, the highest award possible at the regatta.

Of the other Portland units attending the regatta, Sunsail received the next highest rating with the “Clipper” award. Beaver and Voyageur, Decatur, and DejaVu received the “Schooner Class.”

Participants competed in the following events:

• Flotilla drill
• Knot tying
• Splicing and whipping of rope
• Close order drill
• Throwing the ring buoy
• Uniform inspection
• Boatswain’s chair (hoisting a crew man aloft)
• Flashing light signaling
• Semaphore signally
• Breeches buoy (An old fashioned surf rescue method)
• Compass and relative bearings

Awards for participation are given in “classes” named after rigs of sailing ships. The larger the rig, the more prestigious the award. From lowest to highest, the awards are named; sloop, schooner, and clipper.

For information on Sea Scouting, contact Jim Larson at 360-921-8894 or Timothy Calderwood at 503 544 9315..

About the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America

The Cascade Pacific Council ranks among the nation’s largest Scout councils (out of 319) in terms of membership. The Cascade Pacific Council serves more than 47,889 youth in 18 counties in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and is supported by more than 15,902 adult volunteer mentors.

 

Local Boy Scouts of America Accomplishments

This last year (2003) Scouts of the Cascade Pacific Council reached out to the community and achieved the following outstanding accomplishments:

 

Goodwill/Good Turn – Scouts collected 362,895 pounds of usable clothing and household goods for Goodwill Industries in 2004. Over the past ten years, 4.2 million pounds have been collected.

 Camping Program – The Cascade Pacific Council has one of the strongest outdoor camping programs in the country, camping 11,000 boys at seven summer resident camps and ten day camps last year.

 Scouting for Food – Scouts collected 519,766 pounds of food for local hunger relief agencies through the Scouting for Food drive in December 2003.

 Guy Miller Tree Plant – Over 2,500 youth and family members planted nearly 37,500 tree seedlings in our forests and neighborhoods in support of the Guy Miller Tree Plant program. Since 1977, this program has accounted for the planting of more than 2 million trees.

 Violence Free Spring Break – In partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, the Police Activities League, Multnomah County, Boys and Girls Club, and other organizations, the Cascade Pacific Council has planned, coordinated and staffed special events like “Violence Free Spring Break.” Over 375 youth were served for this event alone. These events use Scouting facilities and curriculums to deliver positive, values-based programs.

Outreach – Over $29,930 in scholarships was awarded to over 536 youth members for summer camp.

Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.