Making way in Dublin Bay

Unexpected cancellation of this years rowing regatta was not just once but three times. Whatever happened to when the students  go back to school in September the weather gets better? Our near centennial regatta has had its interruptions over the years since its beginnings in 1914.The years during both the First and Second World Wars , Sea Scouts went abroad as volunteers as able sea men ,  signalers and commissioned officers  in the Merchant and Royal Navy .

The high winds of recent days would make it impossible to get crews out on the water. All sections had been training and looking forward to the regatta.However the up and coming Long Distance Skiff Race  on Saturday 17th September is expected to get a start. Best of luck to the Malahide crews. Congratulations to the girls in the Neala troop who came third in the junior seamanship competition the Hamill Cup held recently in Howth.

Sea Scout Rowing Regatta

Malahide contingent , depart St.James Terrace to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree

Twenty two leaders and scouts from Malahide attend the 22nd World Scout Jamboree been held at  Rinkaby (near Ahus) in the South of Sweden. Scouts traveled from Dublin by air on Monday and Tuesday  25th/26th July 2011. The official opening commenced on Wednesday 27th July with 39,000 participants  from 160 different countries. The camp will finish on the 8th August .

The Jamboree promise to be a very memorable event .A full weeks programme of   fun, educational and challenging activities ,which draw on the patrol system. Opportunities on discovering new cultures , global development issues ,respect for oneself and others ,the environment , health,peace and community development.

Malahide leaders who will represent the group at the Jamboree as IST (International Service Team)

Irish Sea Scouts at the 1st World Scout Jamboree 1920

Malahide scouts over the years have been well represented at  World Scout Jamborees which go back  as far 1920 when former Group leader Mr. Jack Webb attended the 1st World Scout Jamboree in Olympia, Kensington, London between 30th July to 8th August 1920. In 1957 the 50th Anniversary of Scouting also known as Jubilee year the 9th World Scout Jamboree was held in Sutton Park, Birmingham, England and 18 scouts and leaders from Malahide attended.

Over the days 16th to 19th April 2011 14 scouts and leaders completed their Practical Oars Charge Certificates. Many thanks to examiners Liam Ball of 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts and Cian O’Gradaigh of 7th Port Howth Sea Scouts.

New Coxswains for Malahide Sea Scouts presented with both Advance and Intermediate Oars Charge Certs

The days for the assessment where fine with variable winds up to force 4 coming from an easterly direction . Spring tides were strong and proved a little difficulty when approaching “picking up a mark”  or carrying out “man-overboard drill” . Steering with out a rudder required all the skills of the coxswain’s .However all had trained hard and standard was good.

Attending to patients on REC 3 course at the Malahide Sea Scout den

What did you do this weekend? Well if it was nothing ? down at the  Scout  Den in Malahide you would have being spoilt for choice. Less than 12 hours after the school doors closing for the Easter break scouts were busy engrossed in their choice of activity over the weekend. Twelve senior scouts and leaders started their weekend on a REC3 lifesaving course. The course commenced Friday evening and continued till Sunday evening. During that time the scouts were taken through mock up  incidents should a multitude of accidents happen at an  activity. Featured broken legs , sprained wrists , fainted subjects , heart failure ,blocked airway etc .

Broken leg!

While this was going all round the den other scouts very busy completing boat maintenance, sanding, repairing ,patching and cleaning down the boats to get them ready in time for the start of the season.

Leaders from Bray,Howth and Malahide Sea Scouts

On the water the watch leaders and leaders were completing the practical boating exercise for the Oars Advance Charge Certificate. The exercise included man-overboard drill , steering a course through  a  crowded anchorage , exercise with loss of a rudder , preparing a sea anchor , following a compass course and good boat handling skills.

Coxswain instruction .Hold water starboard give way port!