Western Region Sea Scouts, B.S.A.

Bosun's Log (From 1998)

This page consists of the log of the Chief Boatswain of Western Region Area III 1998-1999, Christopher K. Sokolov. You can read a short biography of Christopher on the National Sea Scouting web site.

March 1998

On March 7, Christopher Sokolov attended the San Francisco Bay Area Council Bridge of Awards and Quartermaster Ball. The awards ceremony and dance was well attended by Ships from the Council and by guest ships from the Area. Trophies were awarded for winners of races in the 1997 Sail Race season. S.S.S. Intrepid (127) took first place in the competition in 1997. S.S.S. Dolphin (129) was awarded the prestigious Uniform Inspection award. In an impressive Landship ceremony, S.S.S. Corsair (22) was relieved as Council Flagship by S.S.S. Viking (100). Viking will represent the SFBAC as Flagship in 1998. The highlight of the evening's ceremony was the presenting of the Quartermaster Award, the highest recognition in Sea Scouting, to Martinique Querner of S.S.S. Viking (100). A well-received dance followed. Christopher commends all involved in this significant event.
March 23 - Met with Area Commodore Bob French at the Stockton Sea Scout Base. Also toured the new improvements to the Base, Ship's Stores, and the Morris.
Christopher also spent time this month speaking with various youth members in the Area about issues facing Sea Scouting. A list of youth members with e-mail addresses is in the process of being put together. In the next couple of months, he hopes to meet and talk with many more crews at the Area Regattas and other functions.

April 1998

Old Salt's Regatta (Saturday, April 4). Ships from all over Northern California gathered in San Francisco at the historic liberty ship Jeremiah O'Brien to participate in the 50th Old Salt's Regatta. Area Boatswain Christopher Sokolov attended the Regatta and used the opportunity to talk to members from most ships present about the Area Sea Scouting program. Congratulations to all of the crews that competed! Photos from the Regatta are available online.
Area Meeting (Friday, April 17). The quarterly Area meeting took place. Unfortunately, Christopher was unable to attend due to religious obligations.
Seafarer's Regatta (Saturday, April 25). Area ships came together at the Martinez Sea Scout Base to compete in the Seafarer's Regatta. While unable to attend, Christopher congratulates all who participated this year at the Regatta. Photos from the Regatta are available online.

May 1998

Scouting Spirit in Action (Saturday, May 9). Today, a group of Sea Scout Ships exemplified the cooperative spirit of Scouting. On Saturday, the Rialto Post Trophy sailing race was schedule to be held at the San Francisco Sea Scout Base. I participated aboard S.S.S. Viking (100), a historic thirty foot sailing whaleboat dating from the late thirties. Weather conditions were rougher than usual, but the race was going well until during a botched jibe, Viking turned on her side and was swamped. The seven person crew was dumped into the water. Immediate efforts by the crew to right the vessel failed. Through the efforts of friendly boaters and United States Coast Guard Station San Francisco, the crew was picked up and transported to land where paramedics checked out the youth who had been in the water for upwards of ten minutes before transporting them to the SF Sea Scout Base.
Meanwhile, the skipper and crew of S.S.S. Dolphin (129) along with crew members of the Intrepid (127) embarked in Dolphin to retrieve the Viking. Dolphin managed to right the Viking and tow her back to the Base, along with crew from Intrepid in the vessel Jumanji. This task took the whole afternoon and was very difficult under the conditions. The San Francisco Bay Area Council Commodore and Portmaster coordinated rescue efforts at the Base.
This accident demonstrated the best in the officers and crews of the ships at the San Francisco Sea Scout Base. The Council officials, officers, and crew from the ships showed that a "Scout is helpful" in the best way. The crews of the Viking and Corsair thank the members of the other ships for their wonderful assistance that made a bad situation better.
Ancient Mariner Regatta (May 22-25). This past weekend youth and leaders from all over California participated in the 46th Ancient Mariner Regatta at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. The largest gathering of Sea Scouts in the Western Region was better attended than last year. Congratulations to all the youth participating, and thanks to all the Officers who worked together to make this a successful event! Pictures from AMR to follow soon.

July 1998

Independence Day 1998 (July 4). Vessels from accross Northern California cruised to the San Francisco Sea Scout Base to visit sights in the city and enjoy the fireworks on the waterfront. Photos from the day - and night - are available online.
National Explorer Leadership Conference (July 13-17). I participated in the 1998 NELC at the University of Maryland in Washington DC. This was a great opportunity to meet Explorers and Sea Scouts from around the country. I left the conference very proud of the members of the young adult divisions of the Boy Scouts of America. These youth are truly the finest in America, and I am glad to be part of this organization. This Conference was particularly interesting as it will be the last of its kind, and the Conference was abuzz with news and rumors about the creation of the new Venturing divison and the transfer of the Exploring division to Learning for Life.
You can see my photo album of the conference.

August 1998

New Venturing Youth Representative - Sea Scout youth are represented in Area W-3 by the Area Boatswain. However, all Venturing youth on the west coast, including Sea Scouts, are also represented by the Western Region Venturing Representative. David Ellison currently serves as the Western Region Representative and is always happy to hear from region youth.
David Ellison is active on a local level in the Utah National Parks Council. He has received the Explorer Council Leadership Award, Explorer G.O.L.D. Award, 1997 Northeast "Explorer of the Year" Award, On My Honor (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Religious Award, Eagle Scout, and the Congressional Award from the US Congress. He is currently working toward the new Venturing Silver Award.
David Ellison serves as the Western Region Venturing Representative on the National Venturing Cabinet. This position allows him to help individual Venturers and councils in his region. Feel free to contact him to assist in your ship, district, council, or area activities.
Contact Information:
Electronic Mail: Davellison@aol.com
Mailing Address: 518 R Hall, Provo, UT 84604
(801) 371-3762

October 1998

U.S.C.G. Training Weekend (October 16-18). A weekend of training and camaraderie for area Sea Scouts took place at Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but luckily I received the following report from Ordinary Angelica M. of S.S.S. Viking (100), San Francisco:

Living close to the San Francisco Bay I hear the Coast Guard helicopters bustling overhead every day. I have always known that they play an important role in the safety and well-being of watergoers in the Bay but I honestly had no idea exactly what they did until our Sea Scout Ship, Viking, which is based in San Francisco, went to a rendezvous at Yerba Buena Island a few weeks ago. We had spent the morning focusing on the ever-present task of teaching people how to sail, and then headed over to the Island. Even though it is less than two miles off San Francisco, it is a mysterious place to most Bay Area residents.
When we got to the rendezvous we were overcome with the friendliness of the other ships there. One even offered us a warm lunch on their boat! After a relaxed beginning our crew began to explore the Coast Guard Base. The ships moved from station to station learning precisely what the Coast Guard does and how they do it. The first station we visited was Law Enforcement. There we met a Coast Guardsman who explained why they check boats for safety and the precautions that they must take. Until the half hour lecture I had never realized what a big job it is to inspect boats. Scenarios when force is used were explained and disciplinary tactics were demonstrated. Our crew was then shown how to quickly pump out a board with electric pumps. Very interesting for a group used to the old-fashioned methods of vintage sailing whaleboats! We learned a great deal about flares and how to use them which was exciting because we were actually allowed to set them off. My personal favorite was seeing how the Coast Guard helicopters work from the actual team that flys them everyday. We watched it take off while all the leaves in the sourrounding trees blew up into the clouds... it felt like we were in a movie watching Air Force One take off! All in all it was a great experience -- we learned things that we would not have experienced otherwise. It was great fun to celebrate the end of the day with our friends from other Bay Area ships at a dance.

Thanks, Angelica! I hope everyone else had as enjoyable a time. Some photographs from the weekend can be found on the following web site:

http://members.tripod.com/~SeaScout/YBI.html
Northern California Sea Scouting Roundtable (October 23). Skippers, mates, and youth representatives met to discuss Area program. Skipper Carl Shellhorn chaired the gathering as Commodore French was away at the National Sea Scouting Committee meeting.

November 1998

Napa Mini-Regatta (November 7). S.S.S. Chaser of Napa hosted a mini-regatta for Area ships to hone their seamanship skills at their Base. The following compliment was received from the S.S.S. Oregon for (you guessed it!) Oregon:

It was a distinct honor and privilege for S.S.S. Oregon to participate in the Napa Mini Regatta. Working alongside so many diverse yet intertwined Sea Scout Ships was, for us, a rare opportunity.
Our specific thanks to the Skippers of Chaser and Tiki Too. The inclusion of us by their crews and berthing aboard their vessels made the long drive worthwhile. To all the other participants, S.S.S. Nani Kai Maka included, your hospitality and friendship were in keeping with the highest scouting traditions.
S.S.S. Oregon
Yaquina Bay (NPT)
Southwestern Rendezvous (November 27-29). Several Area W-3 ships participated in the Southwestern Rendezvous held at the Naval Amphibious Base on Coronado Island near San Diego, California. I was pleased by the good spirit (and great seamanship!) demostrated by our ships. Thanks to all involved in putting on the Rendezvous!

January 1999

Ancient Mariner Regatta General Meeting (January 8). Officers and crew from throughout the Area met to discuss and vote on proposals to modify this year's Ancient Mariner Regatta. The Regatta is a model of youth participation in important decision making that I hope will followed elsewhere!
Northern California Sea Scouting Roundtable (January 15). Skippers, mates, and youth representatives met to discuss Area program at this quarterly meeting.
Applications for Area Boatswain available. At the Roundtable on January 15, applications for the position of youth representative for the Area were released. Applications are available on the web in Adobe Acrobat format. Please spread them to qualified candidates as soon as possible! I would be happy to answer any questions about the position.

If you have any comments for Boatswain Christopher Sokolov, please e-mail him or contact him by telephone or mail.

1/10/00 - csokolov@seascout.org