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Richmond Boasts Largest Sea Scout Ship in America - Join Now!

USS Hornet hosts Sea Scouts regatta Contra Costa Times

Article Launched:05/24/2007 03:23:05 AM PDT

 

IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE that the largest ship in the Sea Scouts is present at the largest annual Sea Scout event in the United States. The ship is the S.S. Northland, a former U.S. Navy torpedo retriever now belonging to the Sea Scout chapter in Richmond, and the event is the Ancient Mariner Regatta, taking place this weekend in Alameda.

As many as 500 Sea Scouts from around California and other states will be at the USS Hornet -- the retired aircraft-carrier-turned-history-museum -- for the 55th annual regatta, which runs through Memorial Day.

The young men who make up the crew of the Northland will set out from the ship's home at the Port of Richmond on Friday to dock by the Hornet for the event.

Once there, they will join other Sea Scouts competing in 25 nautical skill competitions, including seamanship, whaleboat races, sailing, piloting, obstacle course and knot tying. The Richmond Sea Scouts have some maritime knowledge that won't be part of the competition, such as what it takes to get a 27-year-old, 102-foot steel ship back in action.

The Northland had been out of action since August 2005, when one of its two 16-cylinder diesel engines failed. The cost to repair the engine was estimated at $100,000, far beyond the means of a Scout troop dependent entirely on donations.

Sea Scout youths and parents worked more than a year to rebuild the power plant after a compatible surplus engine was found. But a lot of the (literally) heavy lifting was accomplished with the support of local industries that took an interest and lent their expertise.

"As word spread of our efforts more assistance came from the port, and local companies generously provided free labor and purchased some parts to help us out," writes Jon Sargent, a Sea Scout parent and founder of the Northland Nautical Foundation.

"Costly work that was beyond our capabilities -- towing our ship twice to a company's dock for heavy work, cutting the hull open and removing the broken engine, reinstalling the rebuilt engine, welding, and making complex adjustments to the engine for operation -- was taken care of by these companies and their employees."

The engine was test-started in late April and ran perfectly, setting the stage for the Northland's first cruise in more than a year and a half, a voyage to the Port of Redwood City on May 4.

So it's understandable that the Richmond contingent will be particularly proud when the Northland docks in Alameda on Friday.

The Ancient Mariner Regatta is open to the public from 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

To learn about the S.S. Northland or joining the Richmond Sea Scouts, visit http://www.hometown.aol.com/sssnorthland. The program is open to male youths ages 14 to 18 in the greater Richmond area. Interested young women will be referred to join a female staffed ship in the program.

To learn more about the Ancient Mariner Regatta visit http://www.ancientmariner.us. For directions and admission information for the USS Hornet, visit http://www.uss-hornet.org.

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