Day Five: Ready to Jump

Ganges Harbour, B.C. -> Montague Harbour, B.C.

Route #58R - 5.44 Miles

The crew was up and at it again, while the Curtis was ready to go at 10am. Today is an easy day, as we are heading to Montague, an hour run. The crew got to deal with a little more traffic today, which is a good practice for Victoria, B.C.

Skipper Tom always has a good lesson…and the Scouts are always ready to listen!

Skipper Tom always has a good lesson…and the Scouts are always ready to listen!

When the ship is underway, the Sea Scouts that are off-watch spend time working on their advancements. When walking through the galley you will see Scouts tying knots, quizzing each other on navigation rules or discussing vessel safety checklists.

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Many of the Quartermaster Scouts mentor their shipmates and help them advance through the ranks of apprentice, ordinary and able.

Trevor & Caitlyn find a seat on the stern to quiz each other.

Trevor & Caitlyn find a seat on the stern to quiz each other.

Once in Montague, the kids were buzzing around as everyone was getting ready to jump off top side. It’s a loved tradition that happens every cruise. The kids put their life vests on, climb up, and get ready to jump and meet the cold water.

Everyone had their fun jumping over and over, and now it was time to make trips to shore and set up for another BBQ.

Our amazing galley crew supervised by Miss Sue made chicken, homemade potato salad, watermelon, and chips with dip.

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With more time to kill after dinner, the scouts played on small beaches around the island and hiked more trails.

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As everyone made it back on the boat, we were greeted with a beautiful summer sunset.

There were a few different card games going on in the galley, stories being told, and laughs being shared. Before you knew it, it was time for lights out and another successful day completed on the Charles N. Curtis.

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What's a "Long Cruise"?

If you spend any time at Tacoma Sea Scout base in the late spring, there are two words you will hear the scouts and the adult volunteers say often:

LONG CRUISE.

The Tacoma Sea Scout program is a year-round high activity program that conducts real time maritime education and training on their three vessels: SSS #110 Charles N Curtis, SSS #190 Odyssey and SSS #198 Vérité. Since Washington weather is iffy at best in the fall, the programs do a lot of book work, service projects and maintenance when mother nature is too foul for cruising the Puget Sound. All of the training and drills culminate in long-term overnight cruises up to locations such as the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C.

This year, SSS #110 Charles N. Curtis embarks on a 16-day “long cruise”. There are 2 week-long trips aboard the vessel that allow the Scouts to get real sea time under them overnight for 7+ days. These teens barely clean their rooms - but at sea, they are responsible for maintaining daily checklists and participate in various duties including cooking for the entire crew of 18+, navigation, recording in Coast Guard inspected logs, cleaning the restroom facilities and even taking apart the “head” if it should malfunction…oh boy.

Check back daily as we share our real-time videos with the 2019 long cruise crew. Watch as our adult leaders mentor and train the next generation of maritime industry leaders. Visit Washington State’s islands accessible by boat only through our posts.

On land, these dedicated youth may not be able to drive a car, but on long cruise they are planning, navigating and piloting an historic 88-year old Coast Guard vessel. How’s that for fun?

Long Cruise Itinerary:

  • Anacortes

  • Sucia Island

  • Bedwell

  • Chemainus

  • Ganges

  • Montague

  • Victoria, B.C.

  • Friday Harbor

  • La Conner

  • Tacoma