Kaua‘i Sea Scouts make history at Ancient Mariner Regatta

Kaua‘i Sea Scouts made history last week, raising the Hawai‘i state flag for the first time in the 60-year history of the Ancient Mariner Sea Scout Regatta in California.

Larry Richardson, commodore of the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council Sea Scouts, said Aloha Council Boatswain and Kaua‘i resident Jacob Sauceda had the honor of representing Hawai‘i by carrying the Hawai‘i flag as part of the color detail aboard the USS Hornet, where the regatta took place.

Sauceda was joined by SSS Decisive Boatswain Taryn Mann and the crew of the SSS Decisive in competing, the efforts yielding a rating of Schooner Class following the event.

Richardson said ships compete in 26 different events with the scores totalled and averaged, resulting in the ship’s rating.

Clipper is the highest rating, followed by Schooner, Sloop, Catboat and Participant.

“The fact that our Kaua‘i Sea Scouts earned the second-highest rating of Schooner Class at their first-ever regatta is an amazing accomplishment and testament to their determination and dedication,” Richardson said in an email. “We should all be proud of them — I sure am.”

The commodore said the Kaua‘i Scouts were warmly received by the rest of the fleet; everyone wanted to meet the people from Hawai‘i and formed friendships with the crew of the SSS Albatross, Richardson’s old ship.

The Kaua‘i Scouts arrived on the evening of May 24 , spending Friday cruising to the regatta aboard the Sea Scout 2012 National Flagship, the SSS Albatross.

During the weekend, the scouts were competing at the regatta and living aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet before returning home Thursday.

In addition to Richardson, Sauceda and Mann, members of the SSS Decisive include crewmembers Rhys Heeley-Ray, Krista Bolton, Chase Benjamin, Elijah Martiney, Brandon Iida and Mate Flora Obayashi.