The "Seal Watch"

It was hard work for the start of the Practical Oars Charge Cert training over the weekend. The “Seals Watch” began early on Saturday morning  from Malahide Marina. The constant North Easterly force six ,gusting seven made it difficult for coxswain and crews to navigate the exam course in Malahide’s lower estuary. The crew persisted and completed the early stages of the practical. Crew’s will return in a week or so time to do further training before full assessment.

Scout's Fleur-de-Lys at Robswall,Malahide

With less than two weeks before the Sea Scout Centenary Photo will take place on Saturday 14th April 2012 in Croke Park,the operations team had a dry run at Robswall,Malahide last Sunday afternoon. On the day of the photo,one will be taken from an elevated position.The theme will be the Scout Fleur-de-Lys.A Fleur-de-lys will be chalked out and all sea scouts will go inside the marked area while the photographer from a 100 foot lift supplied by Dublin Fire Brigade will take the photo looking down on the scouts formed within.

The theory side to this years Oars Charge Cert course concluded last Sunday night.Twenty three leaders,watch leaders and scouts sat through the hour or so written test.

23 leaders and scouts who recently took the written theory test for oars Charge Cert

In the Intermediate section questions ranged from safety equipment to choosing a safe anchorage,while in the Advance section from Navigation to Sailor talk. You might well ask what is sailor talk? Well it plays a big part in the symbolic framework of  sea scouting in Malahide. For example questions are asked to identify the different ranks on a ship from Skipper to Bosun.In addition know the areas on a ship and apply them to our land ship ( our den).

Oars Charge Cert at Malahide

Questions on flag etiquette crossed into both papers. Most stumbled to explain what ‘The Heads’ are ? Do you know?

Boat drill on the maindeck

Although the boats are all out been sanded, scrubbed, treated and ready for painting scouts still keep  preparing for the coming season.Boat drill and heaving a line  are carried out indoors on the maindeck on these dark winter evenings. Practice on tossing oars and commands are carried throughout the evening.

Tossing Oars!

Heaving a line.

Sea Scouting Ireland Commemorative badge 100 . 1912 - 2012

2012 is the Centenary of Sea Scouting through out the island of Ireland. In 1912 after careful consideration by Lord Baden Powell and having it established correctly  headed by his brother Warington Baden-Powell Sea Scouts were formed in Dublin,Bray, Malahide, Howth, Ardmore and Wicklow as part of the Local Association. The first appointed Commisioner for Sea Scouts was Lt.Henry.J.Rundle ‘Officer in Charge’ of the Coast guard in Malahide.

To gain a Commemorative Sea Scout badge all Sea Scout groups are been asked to twin with a neighbouring land scout group before April 14th and have a joint waterborne activity(i.e rafting,swimming,kayaking,sailing,rowing,power boating,coastal hike,coasteering,etc.).Log event on groups web site or groups face book account.

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!

Vinny Varley Malahide Friday night section.1st place Master Mariner 2010

I have heard it been said several times over the years the Master Mariner Trophy is equated to the level of a 2nd mate’s ticket. That is great praise as the level they must train up to,is very high.The venue this year was inside Howth Harbour,County Dublin on Sunday 17th October 2010.

The competition covers a very wide  syllabus that includes rowing,water safety,sea traditions,rope work,parts of craft,anchoring,boat maintenance,communications,steering rules and lights,meteorology,navigation and bouyage.Each entrant is expected to show a level of knowledge in all of the above and that they have undertaken a high level of training.

Bird's eye view

It is a credit to all who enter to their dedication to improve their Nautical skills.This year 1st place was won by Vinny Varley of Malahide Friday Night section.Our closest neigbours Howth Sea Scouts came 2nd while Aisling Boyle and Paul O’Sullivan of Malahide Sea Scouts Neala and Friday  section respectively qualified with  great results.

Lucan, Anna Liffey,Wren’s Nest,Palmerstown,and Chapelizod are very well recognised Dublin locations. They are also the 5 weirs you must descend on the Scout Liffey Decent.This course is internationally challenging as early in September the International Liffey Decent takes place on the same weirs.

Decending Wren's Nest

The challenge is increased by the ESB letting more water into the river from their station in Leixlip.Malahide Sea Scouts have competed competitively in this race since its beginnings in 1978 .This year all scout sections in the group were well represented and placed highly in the different age sections.The over all female trophy was won by Neala section.

1st Place trophy - Overall Female section

Crews briefing

The Sea Scout Regatta(formerly L.S.Albatross Regatta) had almost everything going for it when reading the weather forecast given last Wednesday.A big high developing over Scandinavia pushing away a  deepen low  off the South West of Ireland.

A brisk start!

The low was moving slowly but was dragging strong winds up from the Mediterranean given unseasonable temperatures.But who was complaining a 4.3 meter tide with an easterly increasing the level in Broadmeadows helped by the displacing waters in the inner estuary by works carried out on the ”Arches”.

Tangled!

The day began with a briefing by race officer of the day  John White to crews.Format for the day.Course set Starboard triangle.Team racing was the order of the day.Winds 20 to 25 knots had caught out unskilled crews very quickly and proved tough. However  1st place Malahide Sea Scouts Friday won all races with maximum points. Congratulations  to their skilled team,well done.2nd place to Malahide Neala troop,3rd Dunlaoghaire Sea Scouts Fodhla troop,and 4th Malahide Wednesday night.

Skilled crew.

Prize given took place afterward in the Dingy pen of Malahide  Yacht Club.Prizes were presented by Skipper Brian Cobbe of Malahide Friday.A special thanks to Malahide Yacht Club for their hospitality and use of Broadmeadows facilities.Skipper Cobbe concluded by thanking John White and all the volunteers,rescue for making the day a great success.

Race Officer of the day - John White

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