Four Sea Scouts from across the US will be spending a week on board the US Coast Guard Barque Eagle (WIX 327) this summer. They will meet the Eagle in Portland, Maine on August 5th, and travel onboard to her homeport of New London, Connecticut on August 11th.
The Sea Scouts selected are:
- Clayton D. is an Ordinary Sea Scout from Gulf Coast Council and Ship 448. Ship 448 is chartered by Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 081-01-04.
- Sebastian F. is an Able Sea Scout from Chief Seattle Council and Sea Scout Ship 2451, the “Argo.” Sea Scout Ship 2451 is chartered by the Chief Seattle Council.
- Olivia K. is an Ordinary Sea Scout from Potawatomi Area Council and Sea Scout Ship 2, the “Nemo.” Ship 2 is chartered by St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
- Katya W. is an Ordinary Sea Scout from Old Hickory Council and Sea Scout Ship 924, the “Shearwater.” The ship is sponsored by the New Hope United Methodist Men.
The Scouts will be accompanied by Sea Scout immediate past National Commodore TW Cook during their adventure.
The USCGC Eagle is a 295-foot, three-masted barque (23 sails) used as a training vessel for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. Known as “America’s Tall Ship,” the majestic Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service. She was built at the Biohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany in 1936, she was commissioned as “Horst Wessel” and was one of the sail-training ships operated by the pre-World War II German navy. She was taken near the end of the war and re-commissioned as the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and sailed to New London, Connecticut, which has been her permanent homeport ever since.
In this modern age of computers and global positioning satellites, it may look old-fashioned, but lessons learned sailing aboard a large square-rigger are invaluable. On the decks and in the rigging of Eagle, young cadets are tested and challenged, often to the limits of endurance. Everyone depends on others to know their job and do it.
The old saying, “We’re all in the same boat,” comes from a ship like this. Because Eagle is so labor-intensive, it’s a demanding trainer. It’s an intense, humbling experience that instills teamwork, builds confidence, and conquers fear – all traits as welcome onboard ship as in a corporate boardroom.
Congratulations to our four Sea Scouts and we hope you have an amazing experience as part of the crew of the Barque Eagle!