Pensacola Sailing Adventure

Sea Scout Ships 851 and 360 had a sailing adventure from 26 June to 2 July. The ships chartered 4 sailboats ranging in length fro 28 to 38 ft from Emerald Coast Yachts in Pensacola Beach, FL. There 12 scouts and 8 leaders that made the trip. Below is group photo.
While rafted up for dinner one evening, we were hit by a severe thunder storm with gusty winds and rain. We had to rapidly break up the raft and the four boats scattered to ride out the storm. I was on a Hunter 28 with Gary Sawyer as the skipper. When we broke the raft, he and I were the only ones on the boat. We had to retrieve the anchor, took 4 tries to break it loose. We then motored around until the storm subsided. Then we anchored again for the night. gary and I kept 2 on/2 off anchor watches during the night to make sure we were not dragging the anchor. tiresome effort. Here is a picture of the storm as it approached our anchorage.

This is Skipper Dave with a floppy hat, shades, and a life jacket. Still got mild sunburn on my nosae and cheeks.

This is Skipper Dave helping Gary navigate across Santa Rosa Sound towards the Big Lagoon.
James is at the helm and Hunter is minding the main and jib sheets.

Another shot of us in the cockpit of the Hunter 28.

A shot from the bow of the boat as we sailed near Pensacola.

Working on the Mariner 19

Last Saturday was a beautiful day and we used it to good advantage to work on the sailboat. We were able to remove all the old stringers in the bottom of the boat. They were held in by fiberglass strips over the top. We used a chisel to cut the strips. The stringers were rotten and some of them broke apart as we removed them. We saved them all and will use them, as best we can, as patterns for the new stringers.
This is Scout Charlie Miller wrapping up the rotten stringers to be taken home and used as patterns for the new ones. He is being helped by his dad and First Mate for Ship 9851, Doug Miller.

Charlie working on cleaning the bilges so we could work on cutting the stringers.

The boat has weathered the winter pretty well so far this year. There was only a small amount of water in the bilges and a few leaves. The tarp over the cockpit seems to be doing its job and keeping water and debris out of the boat.

We took the rudder home and we hope to get sand it down and get a fresh coat of varnish on it.

Ship 9851 Open House

Sea Scout Ship 9851 will host and open house to recruit new scouts. The open House will begin at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, December 8th, 2010. We will meet at:

VFW Post 9851
73R New Shackle Island Road
Hendersonville, TN 37075

Sea Scouts is a coed program for youths between 14 and 20 years of age. The program emphasizes safe boating principles for both motor boats and sail boats.

For more information contact Skipper David H. Moomy at 615.264.7092 or dmoomy@comcast.net.

Ship 9851 at the Jamboree

Ship 9851 visited the Middle Tennessee Council Jamboree at the Wilson County fairgrounds. Over 14,000 scouts, their families, and scout leaders visited the Jamboree in celebration of the 100 th anniversary of Boy Scouts. There were special areas for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venture Crews Richard Perona and Adam Chambers waiting for their turn at the skeet shooting event.

Richard getting ready for his first shot.

Adam, in the hat, taking aim at the clay pigeon.

Sea Scout Ships 851 and 360 brought several of their sailboats for display. This one had the Sea Scout emblem on the sail.

Participation in The Christmas in July Lighted Boat Parade

Sea Scout Ship 9851 had an entry in the Christmas in July Lighted Boat Parade sponsored by VFW Post 9851. Adam Chambers and Andrew Lamborn worked very hard to decorate VAGABUM, the boat owned by Burkett Nelson. Mr. Nelson was very kind to allow the ship to use his boat for the parade and the ship thanks him very much. Ship 9851 made a fun evening of this event and invited the families of the Sea Scouts to attend. We also had some special guests aboard including Danny Sutherland, Cherokee District Scout Executive, Skipper Andy Griswold of Ship 851, and Skipper George Ward of Ship 360.

This is Adam and Andrew holding the Best in Parade trophy the Ship won for the best decorations.

here is First Mate Roy Cecil, Andrew, and Adam as they secure Santa Claus on Thursday night before the parade when we decorated VAGABUM. Of course we had to move him because he was in captain Nelsons way when operating the boat. So Santa ended up on the second deck where he could wave to all the observers and judeges at Sanders Ferry Park.

here is First Mate Roy and Andrew hanging some of the decorations on VAGABUM.

Another participant in the lighted boat parade.

A house boat all lit up for the parade.

During the parade here is First Mate Roy, Andrew, Adam, and Skipper Dave just before we turned the lights on for the parade.

A great time was had by all!!! Thanks again to Captain Burkett nelson for allowing us to decorate his boat.

Meeting on the 27 June

We will meet at 6:30 PM at t VFW Post 9851 on 27 June. If the weather is good, we will go out on the boat and get some seamanship practice.

Congratulations to Richard for passing his swim test.

We had a great work day last Saturday as we prepped the boat trailer for painting.

Meeting on 22 June

Our next meeting will be 22 June at 6;30 PM at VFW Post 9851. We will work on the boat trailer and plan our lights for the Christmas in July Boat Parade. See you there.