European Sea Scouting 3
Seacout-Net List Manager (listmanager@seascout.org)
Fri, 15 Jan 1999 16:28:43 -0500
Original-From: efl@indigo.ie (Eoghan Lavelle)
Original-Reply-To: seascout-net@mail.sea.scouter.com
Original-Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 00:26:09 +0000
Sea Scouting in Europe - an International Cruise
Although this is very out of date news, I think that it may be of interest
to the members of the net as it is an example of what can be achieved by a
few enthusiasts with a good idea, good planning and back-up.
In 1992, at the 3rd European Sea Scout Leaders' Seminar in Sweden, Gunnar
Skundberg and Einar Oslebye from Norway proposed a Sea Scout "Armada" to
sail to the World Jamboree in Netherlands in 1995. This was an immense
undertaking and nothing similar had ever been organised on a regional basis
before. In spite of obvious difficulties, our Norwegian friends developed
the idea and a planning conference was held in Copenhagen in July 1993
attended by representatives from 9 countries and from the Jamboree
committee.
On 23rd July 1995, twelve Scout sailing vessels from Norway, Denmark,
Finland and Poland, total crew about 120, met at the Kiel Canal in Germany,
some of them having already sailed up to 14 days from their home ports.
These formed the "Northern Flotilla". They passed through the Kiel Canal
into the North Sea in company, sailed along the German and Dutch coasts and
arrived at Den Helder on 27 July. There they were joined by two yachts
yachts from Britain and two Dutch motor barges. They proceded along the
North Holland Canal, through Amsterdam, towards the Jamboree site.
Meanwhile, Sea Scouts from Italy with six small yachts, transported by
container, and Sea Scouts from Belgium with another 6 open sailing craft,
met local Dutch Sea Scouts at Utrecht, forming the "Southern Flotilla",
about 140 strong. They travelled northwards along the Amsterdam-Rhine
Canal, meeting the "Northern Flotilla" on 30th July for a day of water
activities and a party, before moving to their Jamboree stations on 1st
August. Four other yachts sailed across the North Sea from Britain,
directly to Lelystad arriving on 4 August. Three of these were chartered
by a contingent of 39 Sea Scouts from Ireland who had travelled overland
across England to the east coast.
After the Jamboree many of the scout boats sailed to Amsterdam, staying in
the centre of the city and visiting the participants in the Tall Ships Race
and Sail Amsterdam. Then with new crews they faced the long journey home.
Although overshadowed by the Jamboree itself, this was a major
international project. Including the return crews, nearly 400 Scouts and
Leaders were involved, from Finland, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands,
Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The Norwegian organisers and
the Danish, German and Dutch facilitators who arranged receptions and
activities on the way did an excellent job.
The success of the 1995 "Armada", created a great interest in repeating
the event. At the European Sea Scout Leaders' Seminar in Norway in 1997
("Eurosea 5"), the Danish Sea Scouts presented a proposal for a similar
"Sail-in" component for a Millenium Sea Scout Camp in Denmark in 2000. It
was suggested that the Millenium Camp might be held at the Danish Sea Scout
Training Centre at Thuro, near the town of Svendborg on the island of Fyn.
No further details on this project are yet available.
With all best wishes
Eoghan Lavelle
8th Port of Dublin Sea Scouts
Dunlaoghaire, Ireland
