By Connor McDermott
Community Contributor
In early July, 21 Troop 89 scouts, along with their chaperones, went on a high adventure trip to Sea Base in the US Virgin Islands. The group departed from St. Thomas and sailed around St. John, past Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Saint Croix. The scouts had the opportunity to learn how to sail, which included steering, raising and lowering the main, jib, and mizzen sails, tacking and jibing, they also learned to read nautical charts and use the proper terminology while on the boats.
On the first day, after a quick course from the Captain on the names of the lines and sails, what they did and how to properly work them, the scouts sailed to Hawksnest Bay. Next, they sailed to Caneel Bay where the scouts learned how to moor the boat for the night. Over the next few days the scouts sailed to Maho Bay and Waterlemon Bay. At Waterlemon Bay the group hiked to an old sugar plantation where they learned that the Virgin Islands were one of the first places that harnessed the power of the wind to grind up the sugar. Later they sailed to Great Lameshur Bay where there was a lot of great snorkeling. They saw many little fish as well as sharks, barracuda, and turtles. On the last full day of sailing scouts moored the boat in Cruz Bay and hike into town to check out the National Park store on St. John and explore the local town.
The scouts had the opportunity to earn several awards on the trip including snorkeling, duty to God, 50 mile sail, and the Captains award. In order to earn the snorkeling award scouts were required to complete a 10 foot dive and swim various distances in a snorkeling gear. The 50 miler award was earned after sailing 50 nautical miles. The duty to God award included nightly readings and meditations. The Captains award was distributed by the boat captains to scouts who exhibited leadership, respect and growth of knowledge in sailing.
Historically Troop 89 has embarked on a high adventure trip every two years, alternating hiking with sailing. Seabase has several other locations including the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Hiking high adventure trips include Philmont, New Mexico, Northern Tier Minnesota and Ontario, and Summit in West Virginia.
