SAN FRANCISCO, May 11, 2023 – Sea Scout Ship Viking (Ship100), a local Sea Scout Ship of the national coeducational program from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) that blends youth boating and leadership skills with social and community service experiences, has been has named the 2023-2024 BoatUS National Flagship – a recognition as the best “ship” (Sea Scout group) in the country.
The honor was created by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) in 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of Sea Scouts and recognizes excellence in program quality, youth achievement and adult commitment.
One of the largest Sea Scout Ships in California and all-female, Ship 100 is chartered by the San Francisco Sailing Whaleboat Association and has 28 members, 11 of whom joined in the past year.
The young ladies charted an outstanding record of volunteerism, seamanship and growth, combining camaraderie with lots of time spent on the water, including 62 on-water days that included a two-week cruise to the California Delta. The Sea Scouts got underway between ports aboard their open 30-foot Monomoy whaleboat, and for shorter daysails and drills took to dinghies for sailing and rowing. Other adventures included stand-up paddleboarding, waterskiing and swimming.
In the community, Ship 100 Sea Scouts helped to clear a former landslide site, retiled a roof and installed a new sprinkler system on Tinsley Island, and they helped introduce young kids to nautical activities at Maritime National Historic Park’s Junior Ranger Day. The ship also attended multiple regattas and rendezvous, and organized Cub Scout boat trips, a Fleet week BBQ, and held an ever-popular Rain Gutter Regatta – the Pinewood Derby equivalent.
Advancement was impressive. Ten Scouts earned the Apprentice Rank; nine earned the Ordinary Rank; two earned the Able Rank; and one earned the Quartermaster Award. Additionally, another seven scouts completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships. Nine have completed the NASBLA Boater Safety Course.
Said BSA National Chair Sea Scout Chair Ben Feril, “Sea Scout Ship Viking is outstanding because they ensure every single activity has an element of fun, where Sea Scouts are encouraged to be warm, welcoming, and bring their friends. This is bolstered by a policy of getting on the water every time a prospective new member attends a meeting.”
About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 800,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 600 vessels and 300-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com.
About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.” The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.3 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21 and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. Introduced in 1912, Sea Scouting is one of BSA’s older youth programs and for over 100 years it has promoted better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, visit scouting.org. For Sea Scouting, visit seascout.org.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
