Sea Scouts at the America's Cup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Report 6 - February 28, 2003

After nine long days of waiting, which included a trip to Kelly Tarlton’s amazing aquarium (I love the penguins), we finally got back out on the water today. The weather varied substantially, moving between pounding rain and beautiful sun. The seas were choppy with large swells that repeatedly pounded against our small boat, and unfortunately the New Zealand boat as well. A few legs into the race, the combination of wind and swells proved to be too much for the light weight Team New Zealand boat to handle and it’s mast broke in half. The rest of the race was uneventful as Alinghi carefully finished the race to extend their undefeated streak to four wins. As always, my fellow Kiwis (I am an honorary Kiwi after all) were incredibly disappointed and saddened by the incident which left practically no hope for a New Zealand win and it looks like the Cup will end up traveling to Europe soon. Frank and I will be coming home very soon and I will be disappointed to leave New Zealand. My experience here, while at times plagued with rain, canceled races, sickness, and the possibility of missing the finals has still managed to fundamentally be an amazing one. I will miss lining up the patrol boats to head out to mark the race course. I will miss my three boat mates and the lucky red team New Zealand socks. I will also miss the gleam of sunlight reflecting off of the water and the red and white stripped lighthouse guarding Rangitoto, the volcanic island just off of the mainland. I have been very fortunate to have been involved in this amazing experience. I would like to thank everyone who made this trip possible and who have worked so hard to ensure that we were able to have been here, participated, and felt welcome. I would like to thank my fellow Course Marshals, the race coordinators, and especially Peter Carr and our New Zealand Sea Scout coordinator Neville Campbell. There will always be a warm spot in my heart for New Zealand and I would love to come back here some day. The genuine kindness and friendly camaraderie that I have found with the group of people I have been in close contact with has just astounded me. I wish that everyone could be as fantastic as these fine Kiwis. Nicolette Ward

Sea Scouting is a co-educational program offered to young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. Sea Scouting is organized to promote better citizenship and to improve members' boating skills and knowledge through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, and service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage. For information on the Sea Scout unit nearest you, contact your local Boy Scouts of America council, or write to "Sea Scouts," c/o Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079; or e-mail, moreinfo@seascout.org. http://www.seascout.org.

For additional information and press contacts, please write to Christopher K. Sokolov, Sea Scouts, B.S.A.; 575 Scarsdale Rd, Crestwood, NY 10707; or email csokolov@seascout.org.