Read PDF - Southwinds Magazine

SEA SCOUTSREGATTA,Tampa SailingSquadron, April 25By Kathryn SheaPhotos by Bill Fishbournemerica’s Cup, it’s not” as an old salt once famously“Aadmitted. But fun, it is! Teens from all over Floridaand Georgia converged on Apollo Beach on April 25 for the20th Annual Tampa Bay Sea Scout Regatta. This annualevent, under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, ispacked with boating activities, instruction and competitionamong the Ships (as the clubs are known) of the southeasternregion. The coed program, designed to promote citizenshipand boating skills, is open to youth from age 14 to 20.This year’s extravaganza revved up on Friday night, asthe crews sailed or rolled into the basin at the Tampa SailingSquadron in Apollo Beach for registration. Pup tents, poptents, domed tents of all types sprouted among the dryslippedboats in the TSS “back 40.” Young people mixed andmingled renewing old acquaintances and making new onesas they prepared for what one adult admitted was a prettySea Scouts practicing the line toss.“sleepless” night.But the scouts were ready to go when the “Rise andShine” sounded at six on a sparkling, cloudless Saturdaymorning. After breakfast (have you even seen the dent ahundred teenagers can put in the groceries?), twelve “bigboats” were the first to leave the dock, heading into TampaBay for a series of traditional races. These boats, largely volunteeredand skippered by TSS members, were crewed bythe scouts themselves, some of whom were racing on largerboats for the first time.By 8:30, the “Sail to Know Where” fleet—also skipperedby local boat owner volunteers—had loaded their crewsand set off for a day of sailing to points unknown. The Sailto Know Where is a daylong cruise for those teens whochoose the non-competitive track. Nineteen-year-old BrianMorgan, with the West Palm Beach Ship, sailed on SeaDream II with Capt. Jim Lewis. “It was a blast,” reported thecollege student, “The captain was really nice and did whateverthe kids wanted. We anchored at the island and wentswimming.” Returning from the traditional big boat races,scouts rigged Sunfish from TSS and other local clubs andreturned to the waters of Bal Harbor as the sun dippedlower for the Sunfish regatta.Two very special guests were among those cruisingSaturday with Ralph Salgado of Hudson on Wanda’s Wind.Ten-year-old Jerry Lauer and 14-year-old Erica Korstresponded to the scouts’ invitation to children from theTampa Shriners’ Hospital. The youngsters spent the dayon the water and then joined the crowd for a “Pirate’sFeast” of barbecued chicken and ribs when all hands hadreturned to port.Sunday morning activities changed tack. After breakfastand a non-denominational service, the registrants tooka “Mariner’s Quiz” complete with charting a course and,naturally, tying the knots most used on a sailboat. That wasfollowed with a swimming relay race interspersed with“boxing the compass” and a heaving line toss. As the scoutstried to calculate their standing, Skipper Don St. Amour ofShip 185, the hosting club, noted that it was a tight race forthe top spot. “We’ve had great participation from all thekids,” said St. Amour, “and the adults, too…having a greatratio of almost one adult for every two scouts.”The final event was the ever-favorite “Run What YouBrung” makeshift sailboat race. This year, there were noboats made of Saran wrap, but entries included a king-sizeair mattress. a homemade puddle duck named Goose, anda contraption of sewer pipe covered with a tarp with“Sandra” as the rudder. Although the mattress, with a bathtubrubber ducky on the bowsprit was an early favorite,42 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com