S.F. Sea Scout Ship ‘Viking’ Named BoatUS National Flagship
The Sea Scout Ship Viking (Ship 100) of San Francisco, CA, Golden Gate Area Council, has been named the 2023–2024 BoatUS National Flagship based on its outstanding Scouting program. Sea Scouting is a youth boating organization with a focus on leadership training. The Sea Scout Ship Viking is chartered by the San Francisco Sailing Whaleboat Association, and has 28 Sea Scouts, 11 of whom joined in the past year.
Sea Scouting is an inclusive program operated through the Boy Scouts of America for youth aged 14–21. Its program is designed to get Sea Scouts on the water, which is exactly what the Viking did over the past year.
Ten Sea Scouts earned the Apprentice Rank; nine earned the Ordinary Rank; two earned the Able Rank; and one earned the Quartermaster Award. Additionally, another seven Sea Scouts completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS). Two of the Viking Sea Scouts are First Aid-/CPR- certified, three are certified lifeguards, and nine have completed the NASBLA Boater Safety Course.
The Viking gets on the water nearly every week, with a total of 62 on-the-water days. They did a two-week Long Cruise to the California Delta with nine different destinations. They got underway between ports in their 30-foot Monomoy pulling boat for shorter daysails and drills, in dinghies for sailing and rowing, on stand-up paddleboards, and waterskiing and many other adventures, including swimming. As part of their application for the National Flagship honors, the crew of SSS Viking were required to create a video submission about their activities.
In 2002, BoatUS and Sea Scouts, BSA created the National Flagship award to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Sea Scout program in the United States. The award is presented to a Sea Scout ship that demonstrates excellence in youth servant leadership and strong adult mentorship to create a quality character development program and outstanding youth membership achievement during a calendar year.
Congratulations to the SSS Viking crew and the S.F. Sea Scouts for their dedication to, and success of, their mission.
You can learn more about the S.F. Sea Scouts here.
What an excellent program and a wonderful group of young men and women. I learned to sail on SF Bay and spent almost two decades as a member of the Encinal YC. Thank you to all the adult supporters of the Sea Scouts.
A truly well-deserved honor for this crew – as well as for their dedicated officer (leader) quarterdeck!
There are many Sea Scout ships throughout the SF Bay Area – check out your local ship for the young adults in your life!
What about the boat?
My daughter learned to sail in Sea Scout Ship Viking and went on to Cal Maritime’s sailing team, won the Kennedy Cup and represented the USA in the Student Yachting World Cup along with another girl from CMA. Best big boat youth program around.