Scouting America has many different organizations and opportunities for America’s youth all across the country, but not all are land locked.
The Sea Scouts are one such organization that operate out of the Port of Everett Marina, centering on skills training, leadership training and career interests. It helps young people learn skills for a potential future career in the maritime industry. Sea Scout Ship 226 is a maritime focused youth group led by Jeff Neill.
Neill has been a leader in Ship 226 for the last two-and-a-half years. His family has been involved with the Sea Scouts for many years, starting with his father, who was a Sea Scout over 20 years ago.
“My son was just at the right age for joining and his cousin’s in it,” he said.
Neill remembered asking his son if he wanted to check it out, with a firm “‘Yeah, let’s go do it,’” as the reply Neill received. “And then we came and never left.”
Ship 226 focuses on sailing as opposed to many other ships that prioritize powerboats. Anyone aged 14-21 is welcome to come and learn how to sail, as well as boat safety. The ship meets every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. on the Central Guest Dock of the Everett Marina.
“We welcome guests. We do reserve the right to play 20 questions and learn a little bit about your career, what your path is, what your experiences were, and a little bit about some career advice for the youth. Because we do like to always inspire where they can go with their careers,” Neill said.
Once a month, Ship 226 schedules an overnight trip on their boats, always with two or more leaders present to keep everyone safe. Neill said that every summer they do a longer cruise around the Puget Sound, even up to the San Juan Islands. The 10-14 day cruise this year is set to sail up to Victoria, Canada.
The Sea Scouts operate off of donations, like much of the Scouting America organizations. They have been donated four boats over the years: a 30-foot Catalina, a 38-foot Beneteau, a 42-foot Halberd Rossi and their flagship Gypsy Wind is a 77-foot Irwin sailing boat. These boats have been donated over the years by mariners and community volunteers to help make this project possible.
Gypsy Wind is currently out of commission, after being damaged during a wind storm on March 11. Forty to 50 mile per hour winds swept a derelict boat off its mooring lines, sending the boat into the stern of Gypsy Wind, causing over $50,000 in damages to her hull, rigging, and solar panel systems. The boat was hauled out of the water early the following morning and repairs began immediately.
The Everett community, and the sailing community, stepped up to offer donations to help get the boat repaired and back on the water. The Milltown Sailing association recently donated $1,000 toward the repair. Even online groups have pitched in, with the YouTube channel SV Delos, a popular sailing channel with over 900,000 subscribers, offering funds to help make the boat seaworthy again.
“It’s through donations that we’re able to operate, and it’s through the generosity of the community that we’re able to do this service and even offer the services to both college students or other youth, and then all the other things we do,” Neill said.
