| Sea Scouting | |||
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| Country | New Zealand | ||
| Founded | 1909 | ||
| Founder | Warington Baden-Powell | ||
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| Website http://www.scouts.org.nz/ABOUTUS/SeaScouts.aspx |
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Sea Scouts New Zealand are part of Scouting New Zealand. There are around 900 Sea Scouts in New Zealand in 60 troops around the country.
The New Zealand Sea Scouts use a 17 ft cutter as their principal boat - the concept of having a specific boat for Sea Scouts in New Zealand originated in 1944. The first two boats of this class were ready for the 1st National Dominion Regatta in 1945. The original boats were clinker built and used Kauri as the main timber. The rig was a gunter designed so that the all the spars could be stowed inside the boat for towing. These wooden cutters are still in use today including the first built. They continued to be built in the original manner until the early 1970s, around 140 were built over this period. In the late 1960s and early 1970 fibreglass versions of the cutters began to be produced, the hull being identical in shape and size but the gunter rig was replaced with a Bermudan design using aluminium mast and boom. These boats are still in production and around 90 have been built.
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National Sea Scout regattas take place every three years. The activities and competitions typically run for 9–10 days.[1]
The 1st Waiheke Group Scout Den is based on the shores of Putiki Bay, Ostend, Waiheke Island. This group was once one of the largest groups in the Auckland Region over the period 1960-1976. When scouting almost died at the turn of the century the run-down, partially derelict scout hall in its idyllic waterfront location was to be found with smashed windows and litter, missing gear and old scout cutters. Since 2005, Skipper and scout master Graham Crooks, and Long-Term scouting NZ member and Upper North island regional manager Ian Nicolson, have been working on renovating the hall and scout cutters. Consequent success followed and today the group is an ever-expanding enthusiastic representation of the Waiheke community in National Scouting.
The Kotuku Sea Scout Group is based in Levin, New Zealand, in the Horowhenua. The Group consists of a Cub pack, Sea Scout Troop and the Levin Venturers, a combined Venturer Unit with other Groups in Levin. The hall is located on Playford Park, Parker Ave. Training waters are those of Lake Horowhenua, a short drive across town but the troop also visits the estuary at Foxton Beach, Forest Lakes, and competes in the regattas of the Lower North Island Sea Scouts.[2]