Sea Scouts lend a hand for Tall Ships
Tacoma group will provide three vessels, assist others
June 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matthew Erlich, 253-284-0015
media@tallshipstacoma.com
TACOMA – June 17, 2008 -- Tacoma Sea Scouts will offer a People with Disability Cruise on one of their three vessels on hand during the Tall Ships® Tacoma 2008 Festival in early July.
The Scouts will team up with Metro Parks, Kiwanis of Greater Tacoma and the Tacoma Yacht Club for the cruise, scheduled July 6 starting at 10 a.m. An estimated 30 people with disabilities will participate in the cruise, according to event organizers.
Tall Ships Tacoma® 2008 will be held July 3-7 along the Foss Waterway. A total of 31 historic sailing vessels - including the USCG Eagle, HMS Bounty, the Niña and The Lady Washington – will be participating.
The Sea Scouts see Tall Ships as an “investment in the community,” according to Tom Rogers, who has been involved with Sea Scouts since 1963 and skippers the Charles N. Curtis, a former Coast Guard vessel and festival participant.
“Tall Ships allows us to educate the public about Sea Scouts while assisting with the event,” Rogers explained. “It’s something in which we put a tremendous amount of effort.”
Sea Scouts, for youths age 14 and older, have been in Tacoma since 1924. The organization will have three vessels at the event: the Curtis, a former Coast Guard vessel built in 1931; the Odyssey, a 90-foot yawl; and the Verite, a 38-foot rowing-sailing gig. Scouts will also assist vessels at the fueling dock, help with some security and staffing an information booth at their headquarters at 1129 Dock St. Sea Scouts will also have the opportunity to meet with crews.
In May, the Sea Scouts provided sail training for the Youth On Board Program. Forty-eight teens will participate in the program and sail on one of three ships from Victoria to Tacoma at the start of the festival.
In 2005, Sea Scouts put in more than 4,000 volunteer hours into the Tall Ships® event. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it was at least as much this year,” Rogers said.
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