Sea Scout Ship Orion #132 May, 2001

The Ancient Mariner Regatta highlights the end of the regatta season for San Francisco Bay Area Sea Scouts. Scouts from all over California, and frequently from other states, compete for three days at Coast Guard Island in Alameda May 25 through May 28. We hope each family will stop by to observe for at least a few hours. If you plan to spend the night or help judge, we must know in advance.

Directions for those arriving by car: Cars arriving from the North should leave the Nimitz Freeway (I880) at the 23^rd Avenue turnoff. Make a sharp right almost immediately and then follow Dennison Street over the bridge to the gate of the Coast Guard Base. Parking must be in designated areas. This is a military base and you may be required to show proof of insurance on your car.

The Orion will cruise to Alameda May 25^th early in the morning. We need a few Scouts to crew, and your Scout may ask to do this even if it is a school day. I encourage you to work this out as a family and notify teachers early if your Scout is to be absent that day. Scouts who are not cruising will need to arrange transportation by car the evening of the 25^th. Please let me know by May 16^th which mode of transportation your Scout will use.

After our successes at Old Salt’s Regatta, our lack of preparation and attendance at Seafarer’s disappointed those who did participate. To avoid this problem at AMR, we have adopted the following policy:

Scouts will:

1. attend two of the three regatta practices in May,
2. collect $50 or more in pledges for the Human Race,
3. provide four work hours during the month of May,
4. pay the $40 for AMR registration by May 23.

If you have questions about this event, please call. This is always a time for our Scouts to "show off," and we hope your family will join us so you can add to the fun.

Katherine Sterling, Skipper

Well it is time for the Ancient Mariner Regatta. We have new requirements for Scouts to attend the regatta this year. Each Scout must attend a minimum of two regatta practices, work four hours at a work party this month, and get your $50 in for the Human Race.

Regatta Practice is every Saturday until AMR. There will be work parties every Sunday, except for Mother’s Day.

We will need to work together and come to as many regatta practices as possible, even that will not be enough. Everyone needs to practice at home also. Together we can get "CLIPPER."

Steven Cheong and Evan Bowers won the dingy race competition at the Seafarer’s Regatta. One Scout rowed their dingy toward one buoy and exchanged places in the boat when they reached it. Then the other Scout rowed back. Not only were our Scouts fastest, but they have quite a system for exchanging places in the dingy without tipping over. Congratulations.

The SEAL training program is a highly recognized program offered to Sea Scouts around the world who have earned or are close to earning the rank of Ordinary. SEAL stands for Sea Explorer Advanced Leadership. Only four classes of 6 scouts are offered per year. Each Scout sends in an application and an essay on why he/she wants to take the class.

The training lasts for eight days during the summer where the scouts go out to sea on various types of watercraft, from approximately 30’ sailboats to 60’ powerboats. The Scouts learn various types of leadership techniques. They are subjected to hours of study followed by the exercise of what’s learned and several tough tests. The class is designed to push a scout’s ability to learn and work under very hard circumstances. The course is mentally, emotionally, and physically draining.

The dropout rate is very steep. 25% drop out before the class begins, due to the requirements of the work before the training. Another 25% drop out after the first few days. The final test will test the Scout on everything that the Scout has learned.

The reward of this class is the experience and a double silver dolphin pin. This program is more highly recognized than Quartermaster is. Only about 48 scouts in the U.S. are current SEAL’s, that is 48 out of thousands. There is only one other SEAL in Northern California. Both Nick and I intend to add two more Scouts to this elite group.

Our Color Guard has been chosen to be the Official AMR Color Guard for 2001. This is quite an honor, so we must look sharp!

Check your calendars for summer cruise dates. A $25 deposit is needed for each cruise and is due by June 5. Now that the big boat is functional, let’s use it!

Our ship often helps the American Legion with their large dinners. We arrive about 6:00 PM and have dinner with them. When we are finished eating we all head for the kitchen where we clean up. We start with the pots and pans while others to out and collect trash and dishes. We usually are finished by 9:30 PM and everyone heads home. Mrs. Sterling waits with the last of the Scouts for parents to arrive and then our night is complete.

Last month Justin, Evan, and myself started the USPS Piloting course. We are hoping that we will be finished with the course very soon. We get to learn how to chart a course, how to tell the difference between different buoys, how to take bearings and fixes, and how to make a dead reckoning. This course is fun and challenging. I would like to encourage anyone who has taken the Seamanship course to take this course.

The Seafarer’s Regatta is the second regatta of the Regatta Season. Our crew did well and, most importantly, had a good time. The weather was warm with a strong wind approaching as we went to bed on Friday night.

This regatta is located in Martinez, at the Albatross base. Unlike Old Salts, this regatta has access to a pond. It is there where the Scouts are able to participate in Ring Buoy, an event that exercises the ability to toss a life ring to a hapless person in the water and Dingy Race.

The Dingy Race is an event where teams of two are assembled from each ship. Each team then proceeds, to the best of their ability, to row across the pond, go around a buoy, and come back. Simple enough right? Wrong. In addition to a moderate to heavy wind, when the boat makes the turn to come back, the passengers must switch positions, quickly and safely. This proves to be far more difficult than it seems. The small boat yields a very small amount of maneuvering room, especially for two tall teenagers. As if finding space to move wasn’t hard enough, imagine doing it in a boat that tips over very easily and attempting it in a very short period of time. All things being equal, this event is a blast to participate in and an equally amusing event to watch. One of our teams, Evan and myself, managed, against all odds, to pull off the second fastest time of the day. We then went on to win first place in the dingy finals that evening. The dingy finals are an event where the four fastest teams of two compete for the Broken Oar Trophy.

The rest of the regatta was fun and entertaining. The Mystery Event was a Sea Scout modified version of the Pictionary game. The dance was great. It is a tradition that after all the stress of competition, the ships get together for a few hours to reminisce with others. After the dance was the awards ceremony where the top three teams in each event were recognized.

Unlike Old Salts and AMR, there are no classes: Catboat, Sloop, Clipper, etc. at this regatta. Instead there are places for the top scorers. Trophies are awarded to the first place teams. Other awards, such as Sportsmanship, are also awarded. Out crew placed third in Rope Climb and received the Broken Oar Award for the Dingy Race.

The local ship, the Albatross, kindly provided our sleeping accommodations for the duration of the regatta. They allowed us to sleep on their ship that was docked at the local marina, a short walk away.

Amanda earned the rank of Apprentice. Congratulations Amanda!

To all the parents who came to help paint the starboard side of the Orion over the last few weeks. She sure looks great on that side. We will be painting and cleaning over the next three weekends, too, if you would like to help (or help some more.) Call Skipper Sterling for specific times and days.

Meeting called to order at 7:09 PM by Chairman Margaret Guilford.

Margaret Guilford, Katherine Sterling, Stan Sterling, Ed Rogers, Nick Rogers, Wilma Cheong, and Deanna Lockart

Motion made by Ed Rogers and seconded by Stan Sterling to accept the minutes with modifications, motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report

Motion made by Wilma Cheong to table the minutes, as Mary Strohecker was unable to attend the meeting. Stan Sterling seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Boatswain’s Report

Old Salt’s Regatta was last month. Thanks to Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Sterling, and Mr. and Mrs. Cheong for driving. We spent the night in tents. We earned Clipper. Practices are every Saturday. We are lacking Scout participation which doesn’t look good for AMR. Hope lots of Scouts will attend the next Regatta practices. Cruised to Seafarer’s Regatta on the Compass Rose. We had various jobs while cruising. It would have helped if we had had more people. Lack of work hours hindered Scouts from coming. Steven and Evan won the dingy race and received the Broken Oar Award. Recently a few Scouts helped put in the other engine into the boat.

Katherine, Stan, and Louis Gonzalez will be at the fireworks meeting. Ed Rogers and Mike Guilford will be at the Scout meeting. Power Squadron has been using the Scout Hut and will continue through the end of May. They are happy with the arrangement. Need a parent or parents to drive Friday night, May 25^th to drive kids who are not cruising to AMR. Need to know by the 16^th who is cruising and who needs a ride. We have been asked to be the Color Guard for the year. Will do it at AMR. We need to know if parents are going to spend the night, judge, etc. Need to know early. If staying the night and eating, need to judge. Amanda Gonzalez achieved the rank of Apprentice. Nick and Steven have been working on SEAL requirements. Very extensive work to be completed in advance of training. We have met one Thursday night. One Thursday night is MHS awards night, so don't know if we’ll meet that night. No one is to work on the boat on Mother’s Day. The Human Race is Saturday. Most Scouts have done well on raising money. Scouts are to meet four different criteria to attend AMR. Have picked up the Parks and Rec. sticker for Spring Lake. We have been asked by Holly Hansen to do a report on the Orion for a press release. Have had more aluminum cans donated. Thank you Margaret for taking the hazardous waste to the recycling.

None

Amanda – Apprentice

Last week port engine put in. It is up and running. It will be close, but no big obstacles to cruising to AMR.

None

Cruises – Deposits due June 5^th, $10 a day. Half due. Three cruises: June 20-23, July 13-16, and August 9-18 that ends at Hogback on the 18^th. YBI October 20^th.

Spring Lake – Wednesdays, starting July 11. Will schedule some other days. Twilight cruises will be scheduled in the future.

• Request somebody bring cookies, drinks to Bridge. Ed has ice cream cups. Nick will call Scouts.
• Pasta Feed – Friday, September 21^st at Veteran’s Hall.
• After parent meeting last month, Margaret left message for Bruce Bowers that Fundraising meeting was in conflict with Bridge on May 9^th.

Motion made to adjourn, seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Wilma Cheong.

ATTENTION ALL SCOUT FAMILIES OLD AND NEW

We need to update our records. We have new scouts and their families and need to have a current record on file with the scout office of adults and their car insurance information. Please fill out the form on this page and have your scout turn it in to Steven Cheong or Nick Rogers at the next meeting, practice, etc. We will compile all the information and give it to the Boy Scout Office to be kept with our registration.

To contact Skipper Sterling you may send her an email at:

Parent Volunteers

We are always in desperate need of parents to volunteer to help at meetings, work parties, volunteer events, cruises, fun activities, and overnight trips. Boy Scout rules require that we have two non-related adults in attendance at all functions. We also must have one male and one female at all overnight trips, both day and night.

Please sign up on the monthly calendar at the weekly scout meetings. If every parent volunteers one day a month we will have all activities covered.

Don’t forget the monthly Committee/Parent Meetings. They are the second Tuesday of each month at the Scout Hut. They start at 7:00 PM.

May, 2001

Newsletter Editor

4703 Hillsboro Circle

Santa Rosa, CA 95405-8776