What's a "Long Cruise"?
If you spend any time at Tacoma Sea Scout base in the late spring, there are two words you will hear the scouts and the adult volunteers say often:
LONG CRUISE.
The Tacoma Sea Scout program is a year-round high activity program that conducts real time maritime education and training on their three vessels: SSS #110 Charles N Curtis, SSS #190 Odyssey and SSS #198 Vérité. Since Washington weather is iffy at best in the fall, the programs do a lot of book work, service projects and maintenance when mother nature is too foul for cruising the Puget Sound. All of the training and drills culminate in long-term overnight cruises up to locations such as the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C.
This year, SSS #110 Charles N. Curtis embarks on a 16-day “long cruise”. There are 2 week-long trips aboard the vessel that allow the Scouts to get real sea time under them overnight for 7+ days. These teens barely clean their rooms - but at sea, they are responsible for maintaining daily checklists and participate in various duties including cooking for the entire crew of 18+, navigation, recording in Coast Guard inspected logs, cleaning the restroom facilities and even taking apart the “head” if it should malfunction…oh boy.
Check back daily as we share our real-time videos with the 2019 long cruise crew. Watch as our adult leaders mentor and train the next generation of maritime industry leaders. Visit Washington State’s islands accessible by boat only through our posts.
On land, these dedicated youth may not be able to drive a car, but on long cruise they are planning, navigating and piloting an historic 88-year old Coast Guard vessel. How’s that for fun?
Long Cruise Itinerary:
Anacortes
Sucia Island
Bedwell
Chemainus
Ganges
Montague
Victoria, B.C.
Friday Harbor
La Conner
Tacoma