Taking the Helm

The Neala troop came up with a first this year on making their way to annual expo to the Isle of Man in July 2010 .Although its not the first time Malahide have camped on the Isle of Man it’s a first as how the whole troop were transported.

Preparing ! Fore-deck work

Back in 1953 the troop camped near Douglas and would have spent the 6 hour journey on the Isle of Man’s Steampacket conventional ferry the Lady of Mann. On this occasion 16 of the scouts travelled on the IOM Steampacket  caterman the Snaefell and the other 16 scouts  sailed on 4 yacht’s and one motor cruiser from Malahide Marina to Peel Harbour

New scouts invested on Annie Bennie ,Peel Harbour

The opportunity and experience to cross the 70 nautical  mile trip will be memorable one for many years to come. The scouts had the opportunity to get fully involved in making the passage from helm to setting sails,setting the course ,  navigating,winching ,cooking and coming alongside in Peel harbour.

Many thanks must go the skippers and their boats that transported the scouts to and from the Island. Skipper Padraic Somers of Annie Bennie , Skipper Robert Murphy of Gisselle ,Skipper English-Boyle of On the Rocks , and Skipper Eamon Mc Gratten – Mandown.

Approaching home - Malahide Estuary

Warington Baden Powell place of resting.St.Andrew's,Scotland

Its journey began back in August 2009 in St. Andrews, Scotland at the graveside memorial service to Warington Baden Powell older brother of Robert and founder of Sea Scouting. Warington published Sea Scouting and Seamanship for boys in 1909 and a new branch of scouting developed rapidly through out Great Britain and Ireland initially and then throughout the world , known as Sea Scouting.

Flag begins journey at St.Andrew's . Sea Scouts from England, Ireland,Scotland,New Zealand and USA.

Malahide Sea Scouts ( Fri. Troop ).World Sea Scout Centennial Flag

The flag has travelled over 25,000miles so far  since Summer of 2009 .It began its journey at the 100^th Anniversary  Sea Scout Camp held in Nottingham , UK last summer and has travelled from England , Scotland, New Zealand , Council of South Pacific Scout Associations Conference ,Tonga, Fiji ,Hong Kong, USA, Finland , Spain , France  and now Ireland en-route to Eurosea 10 in the Czech Republic.

As Countries begin to celebrate their own centennial of Sea Scouting, a photo and a badge placed on the flag is all that is asked for ,and then it is sent onto the next country. It will continue its journey up to 1912 and probably several years beyond. It’s due back in Ireland in 1912 to celebrate our own Centennial. Although Sea Scouts were active in Ireland from 1910 onwards official registration was not till September 1912 as a Local Association.

Centennial Flag

Malahide Sea Scouts ( Wed Night) - Centennial Flag

Eurosea 10 Motif

The seminar is one of the most popular events that takes place in Europe, and has a very special atmosphere due to the participants all having the same background through working in, or being involved with, Sea Scouting.

Eurosea 10 will be held in the city of Plzen ,Czech Republic from the 1st to 5th September 2010 . Malahide as part of the Irish contingent  will have two representatives  Elaine Dunne Group Secretary and Kevin Rowan Training.

The program planned will cover workshops on Starting up Sea Scouts, How to have a successful Sea Scout Troop, sourcing and raising funds (through EU), sourcing membership and volunteers, new EU legislation effecting safety at sea. Countries attending will have the opportunity to present their best practices. There will be time to experience water activities by our hosts on inland lakes and rivers .

Winners of the Wood Latimer Trophy (2nd Port - Clontarf),at the 1st Sea Scout Rowing Regatta 1914

The Annual Sea Scout skills and competition dates is upon us now from August 28th 2010 through to 17th October 2010. The first event will commence with the Sea Scout Rowing Regatta in Dunlaoghaire and finishing event in October the Master Mariner.

The Sea Scout rowing regatta was first held in 1914 with the Wood Latimer trophy been keenly contested for by several sea scout troops from the Dublin and the  Wicklow area.

Dates for your calendar

Rowing Regatta – 28^th August 2010.Fall in 1030am DunLaoghaire West Pier. Entries to be received on or before 23^rd August (Pre Regatta meeting Dollymount).Full uniform to be worn for final fall in

2nd place Malahide (Wed.)u15 skiff crew 2009

Hamill Cup – 4^th September,2010 – Howth Scout Quarterdeck – Fall in1100am – Full Uniform. – entries to be received by August 23^rd.

Long Distance Skiff race –11^th September, 2010 -  Running start at DunLaoghaire outer breakwater wall – 1130hrs – finish Dodder Scout Den (Derrynane Gardens, off Bath Avenue)  for fall in and prize giving – full uniform required. A German TV crew will film this event. Entries to be received on or before 2^nd September, 2010.

Busy scene at last years Rowing Regatta

Malahide at Scout Liffey Decent 2009

Scout Liffey Descent – note date change to 3^rd October, 2010 – Check in 1100 to 1215 sharp.  Race commences 1300hrs above Lucan Weir (see document attached).

Sailing Regatta – Provisonal date 9^th October,2010.Note date change – Malahide Yacht Club – Fall in – 1000hrs – Bar B Que – Entries to be received on or before 2^nd, October, 2010.

1st place Malahide(Tues.) at Triathlon 2009

Triathlon – 10^th October – Malahide Scout den – fall in 1200hrs – first race –1230hr –  Full uniform required for final prize giving – entries to be received on or before 2^nd October.

Malahide (Fri.) 1st place Fry Cup Team 2009

Fry Cup – Dun Laoghaire –16^th October,2010 -  1100hrs fall in – Full Uniform – entries to be received on or before 9^th October,2010.

Master Marnier – 17^th October,2010 – Howth Scout Den -Fall in Full Uniform – 1330hrs  – entries to be received on or before 10^th October 2010.

Sailing Regatta 2009 Broadmeadows.Malahide Sea Scouts placed 1st & 3rd

Best of look to all troops in 2010 from Malahide Group

View of Kilimanjaro September 2008

This time round Ed is taken time out to brush up on his hiking skills and will be part of an expedition team to climb to camp base on Everest. At 21000 ft the air is thin and preparation is of paramount importance. Just 2 years ago Ed climbed Kilimanjaro in in North Eastern Tanzania at a height of 19334ft.

Ed departs Malahide Thursday 30th September 2010 to make the 8000 mile trip by plane , mini bus , walking ,and making the ascent to base camp.

Kilimanjaro,Ascent goes above the cloud line

As part of his efforts Ed is raising much needed funds on behalf of HOPE FOUNDATION for an orphanage in Calcutta ,India on behalf of street children. Children as young as infant age  can be left abandoned to fend for themselves.

Edward O'Donnell on the Summit of Kilimanjaro Sept 2008

At times in a world that has so much demands on us any  support of help would be most welcome by contacting Edward O’Donnell mobile 0872639381

Planning the Route

This weekend the Friday Scout section of the Malahide Sea Scout group of 37 have planned their route by air and coach to make the 2000 kilometer trip. The Expedition is planned in two halves.

The first several days will be camping on a island  in “Laguna Veneto” near the city of Venice . Here the scouts will enjoy the planned programme of  water activities,and hosteling on the island.The second half will be in a cooler region of “Fruili-Venezia Guila” near Pordenone were the programme  will cover hill walking , cycling , and other outdoor leisure’s.

In between there will be a sightseeing visit of  the City of Venice with an overnight in a Monastery.

In the groups history this would be the furtherest a whole section have traveled for annual expedition. The planning for this trip started twenty four months ago and in the last nine months has been very hectic to organise the route ,camping sites, accommodation , hostel’s,The Monastery,passports, E111’s, travel insurance ,permission to camp forms,flights,connecting transport,local transport ,menus ,buying food,cooking arrangements, programme, and brushing up on the phrase book .

Friday night scouts making last minutes plans for their trip to Northern Italy

It’s a credit to the volunteer leaders who take on all these tasks as part of their efforts to make the expedition run a smooth as possible. The ongoing training is the life skills that scouting gives to those leaders and scouts for the future. The leadership team is Brian Cobbe Skipper, Donagh Farrell,Shane Flaherty,Edel Murray,Ellis Witcher, James Doyle,and  Rory O’Farrell

Scouts load up East Coast Skiff prior to departure to Portlick Bay

Over the years Scout Leaders find it harder to get new campsites for their annual expeditions. Portlick on the shore of Lough Ree in County Westmeath is a establish scout camping site for some years now and is very popular .This time round the Wednesday Night Scout section will start their annual expo! on Friday 30th July for a week.

Rescue craft tied down and ready to go!

The location lends itself to having good lake-shore position for all  boating activities. In addition hiking , cycling ,bivouacking ,backwoods and a visit to historical Athlone makes the foundation for a cracking programme.

Final preparation leading up to departure made the scouts very busy loading boat trailers, checking and re-checking kit lists. When taken a large amount of scouts away for a period of time everything needs to be prepared and layed out.

Tents,poles pegs,mallets,guy ropes,dolly’s,dinning shelters,bench’s ,tables,pioneering poles,marquee,watch boxes, contents of watch boxes , personal kit,log books,oars , PFD’s, paddles,helmets,spray decks,kayaks,skiff’s,bottom boards ,rudder,oars , oarlocks ,BP 18 ,sails,mast,rigging,stays,tiller,rescue craft,rope, spares,gas bottles, gas rings , trailer locks,the list is endless. All in all over 52 members will take part in the week long Expedition .

Skipper Sean Clancy with his leadership crew

The Malahide Contingent at Irish Scout Jamboree,Portumna ,Co.Galway.Photo taken by Enda Williams August 1985

The Jamboree had an attendance of 10,000 scouts and leaders from Ireland and abroad who camped for the 8 days on the grounds of Portumna Castle on the lake-shore of Lough Derg. The event celebrated International Youth Year.

143 scouts ,ventures and leaders from across all sections of the Malahide Sea Scout group camped for the week . The weather was very wet and the Jamboree was nick named ” Port-mud-na ‘85″

James shows the route he took through Netherlands,Belgium and Luxembourg by foot

Its 24 years since the last explorer belt was achieved in the group by Edward O’Donnell and Johnny Leonard. No problem to James who hiked over 265 kilometres and came out the other end with his award.

The expedition crossed three countries Netherlands , Belgium and finished in Wiltz, Luxembourg. James  trekked through the country side, visiting villages along the way and keeping a log his journey and experiences. In addition he had to attend to projects and live on a limited budget.

The Explorer Belt 2010

As James explains “you are  dropped off at a starting point given your tasks that need to complete within a tight time frame”

Well done to James on his achievement from all the members of Malahide Sea Scouts