Winter Sailing with the Scouts

What do you do when it is cold, wet and windy in winter? Well, if you belong to the New Lynn Sea Scouts, you are likely to throw on your wetsuit, grab a boat and go and have some fun on the water, and that’s exactly what they did.
 
Each year Sea Scout Groups throughout Auckland get together and take part in a winter sailing series run off Farm Cove in the Tamaki Estuary. This year’s series comprised 13 races over seven weekends. These were sailed in either a two-person Sunburst sailing dinghy, or a 3-5 –person clinker-built cutter. The outstanding performance this year came from a young crew from New Lynn in the Sunburst class. Out of a fleet of 21 Sunbursts competing, they were by far the youngest and smallest of any of the crews, yet they dominated the series from day one. In fact, they had amassed such a lead that by the end of the series they would not have needed to sail the last three races if they so chose; but then that would have been no fun not to be out on the water.
 
While being a Sea Scout group, it does not stop New Lynn taking part in a large number of land based activities as well. This year the Venturers, these are the older Scouts aged 14+, planned and ran the annual Pitstop Total Exhaustion competition. They had the responsibility to run the event having won it the previous year. This fun event saw teams undertake a series of mentally and physically challenging tasks, interspersed with a bit of bribery, based out on a farm in Swanson. Being held in the middle of winter meant that a good dose of water and mud could be added to the day’s activities.
 
Getting out on the water sailing is both a great way to enjoy the outdoor playground that is Auckland, while also developing numerous life skills. “Running activities like the Pitstop is not only fun, but again helps develop planning, teamwork and risk management skills, not to mention thinking well outside the box” says Andrew one of the Scout leaders. “It is very rewarding to see the growth in life skills of their members as they get out of their comfort zone and push themselves.”
 
The New Lynn Sea Scout Group caters for boys and girls aged 5 – 19+ years. So if you want a slice of the action on the water, or to go camping and explore the awesome adventure playground that we are blest with out West, then give Andrew a ring on 027 6939 756 or see www.newlynn.seascouts.org.nz for more information