The always busy Suffolk-based Sea Scout Ship-16 is once again sponsoring one of the premier Sea Scout training weekends at the nearby Coast Guard Integrated Support Command (ISC) Portsmouth, Mar. 31 through Apr. 2. This year’s schedule is exceptional with different training tracks, a visit by Pirate Pete, scourge of the Elizabeth offering a chance for young men and women, who make up Scout Ship crews from throughout the middle Atlantic states, to get to know each other and receive some first class training!

As with last year, Scout Ship weekend director and Suffolk-native Jim Maccord will provide separate training tracks; the Apprentice Track, the Ordinary Track, the Able Track and the Adult Leader Training Track. Participants should register in the track most applicable to what their requirements needs are. Adults may register in the Apprentice Track to take part in the Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary Safe Boating Course to fulfill their training requirements, though youth will be given preference in filling the track. There are approximately 20 seats available in each track.

There will be 8-9 training hours for each track and all training will take place on Saturday. In addition, Maccord has arranged for a movie with popcorn and drinks Saturday night in the Coast Guard base’s Wheelhouse, where there is also a pool table and a shuffleboard court.

Maccord provided the following description of the weekend activities, “Friday evening will be the signing in and welcoming ceremony. There will also be a Golden Dragon Ceremony, which you may register for at arrival, though if you have an idea how many will be participating, please let us know so we can have enough pins.

There will be a closing ceremony on Sunday that will include unit recognitions, a non-denominational service and closing remarks. A representative of each unit will receive a packet with crew certificates when they check out with the Bos’n.”

Here are the tracks that Maccord described…..what an opportunity!!!

APPRENTICE TRACK

USCG Auxiliary Safe Boating Course n 8 hrs.

ORDINARY TRACK

Navigation and piloting n 2 hrs. classroom

Navigation and piloting – 6-7 hrs. on the water

Included in this will include anchoring practice and man Overboard (MOB) drills

ABLE TRACK

Navigation and piloting- 2-3 hrs. classroom

Navigation and piloting- 6-7 hrs. on the water

This will include anchoring practice and Man Overboard (MOB) drills

ADULT LEADER TRAINING TRACK

Sea Scout Leader Specialized Training n 3 hrs.

Introduction to cruising n 2 hrs.

Skills practice – 3 hrs.

If you are interested in the Suffolk Sea Scout program or participating in this training weekend please contact Maccord at jmaccord@prodigy.com or 538-8869.

Until next week..Boat Safe and Boat Smart.