S.F. Sea Scouts Ship ‘Viking’ Named National Flagship — Again!
Congratulations go to the crews and members of S.F. Sea Scouts with the announcement that Sea Scout Ship Viking (Ship #100) has been named the top Sea Scout program in the US, and is thereby the 2026–2027 BoatUS–Sea Scout National Flagship. This is the third time Viking has earned the honor, following previous selections in 2016–2017 and 2023–2024. Additionally, Viking’s “brother” on the water, Sea Scout Ship Corsair (Ship #22), has been listed as one of five members of the National Fleet.
Sea Scouts from around the US were tasked with presenting their 2025 accomplishments to the National Flagship Committee for Sea Scouting, the members of which would recommend honorees to national commodore Sal Ciampo for final selection. Viking and Corsair each submitted a video capturing their year’s activities and achievements. The opening statement in Viking’s submission video says, “”Our goal is to build and maintain a comprehensive program that prepares scouts for a lifetime of success.”
In 2025, the Viking Sea Scouts demonstrated their achievement in advancement and training. Eight Scouts earned the Apprentice rank, four advanced to Ordinary rank, and an additional four completed the Able rank. Leadership development also featured, with many youths completing Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS). Safety training was also strong, with two youths trained in first aid and CPR, four certified lifeguards, and 17 having completed the NASBLA boater safety course. Ultimately, Commodore Ciampo announced Viking as the 2026–2027 National Flagship adding, “Heartiest congratulations from us all.”
Viking currently consists of 34 Sea Scouts who engage in a program that both attracts and retains the youths through active participation and meaningful adventure. “Ship Viking’s success is rooted in a simple but effective formula: an engaging, on‑the‑water program that allows every prospective member to experience sailing firsthand. This approach has resulted in both strong recruitment and exceptional retention, reinforcing the ship’s reputation for excellence,” BoatUS and Scouting America’s Sea Scouts shared in a press release.
The honored Sea Scouts will receive the Flagship Trophy, a Flagship Flag and Flagship shoulder patches.
“BoatUS extends their congratulations to the Sea Scouts, adult leaders, skipper, and sponsoring organization whose collective dedication and partnership made this achievement possible.” Here at Latitude 38, we share those sentiments and extend our congratulations to all involved in this outstanding achievement.
You can view each of the videos here: Viking; Corsair.