About Ship 6
Sea Scout Ship 6 is a co-ed program for teenagers 14 and up. Prior sailing experience is not necessary, or required. Beginners are welcome! The program goal is to develop able sailors capable of handling the boat and crew as if it were their own. Individual development and team work sail side by side in Ship 6.
Make no mistake about it, Ship 6 is an active sailing program and sails frequently from April to November each year, including Tuesday nights and weekends. This much sailing exposes the ship and crew to the broad spectrum of the boating environment. Ship 6 teaches the skills necessary to not merely survive in this environment but to thrive and excel in it.
Things you should know:
- Ship 6 meets year round and is VERY active with weekly training and on average 50 sailing days each season
- Crew members have come from as far as Pound Ridge, Milford, Weston, Westport, New Canaan, and Stamford. If you are within driving distance and can get to Norwalk then you are "in the zone".
- No neckerchiefs or knee socks in this program! Ship 6 does not follow the traditional Sea Scouting uniform approach - we have our own unique look.
- We don't do "merit badges". Sea Scouting focuses on practical skills - and using them! There is an advancement program that leads to the coveted "Quartermaster" for crew that are interested and take the initiative.
- Successfull Ship 6 crew members are: Dedicated. Dedicated.. Dedicated...
Ship 6 meets every Tuesday night and on many weekends year round! We are not a seasonal program but rather a constant, consistent, and important part of your life.
Winter: From October to April (the winter season) we meet at St Paul's Church on the Green in Norwalk. It's the stone church at the north end of the green, the corner where East Avenue and Route 1 meet. Meeting time is 7:00 pm sharp!
Sailing Season: During the Spring, Summer and Early Fall Ship 6 sails/departs from Norwalk Cove Marina on Tuesday nights promtly at 6:30pm. Weather and tides permitting. Crew arrives well before departure time to ready the boat. If we can't sail we meet at the church, instead.
Weekends:
More sailing, work parties, field trips, fundraisers, etc are conducted on weekends. Schedules are ongoing and variable.
Our New Boat - Celebration II
Ship 6 focuses on "big boat" sailing and is currently a single vessel program. Celebration II is a Tripp 37 racing/cruising sloop and was donated to Ship 6 in 2009. She was designed by Bill Tripp and was very strongly built in 1987 by Holby Marine. Celebration II is 37' LOA with 12.5' beam and 7' draft. She sleeps 8 in cozy but comfortable single berths and meets or exceeds all USPS and USCG recommended requirements as well as YRA LIS Category A race requirements. Navigation methods includes traditional as well as GPS. We are responsible for all aspects of her maintenance, operation and funding.
Our first Celebration, a donated 40' IOR One Ton sloop designed by William Cook, was part of the Ship 6 program for 15 years. In 2010, after many great years of training and memories Celebration retired from Ship 6. 2010 was the first season that Celebration II has been in service and we are thrilled to have her.
Adult Leaders
Ship 6 has a dedicated group of adults to help guide the way. The structure includes a "Skipper" or program director, "Mates" who generally have an area of focus like maintenance or administration, and committee members who support the Skipper and Ship as needed. All adults are volunteers.
Kai Horan - The "Skipper"
Since 2006 the Skipper position has been held by Kai Horan. Prior to becoming Skipper Kai was a Mate in the Ship 6 program. Kai's boating experience includes J24 and Ensign racing, extended crusing in Maine on a 44' steel hulled crusing sloop, frostbiting on JY15s, 2 participations in the Vineyard race on a J100, Block Island Race Week, Stratford Shoal races and more. Kai has had a CT boater's license since age 16 and is a member of Norwalk Sail and Power Squadron. She has completed United States Power Squadron courses including Sail, Seamanship and Piloting. Kai is CPR and first aid trained. Kai is also Sea Scout Leader trained, has been an instructor at the Sea Badge adult leadership conference and is a recipient of the Venturing Leadership award.
Jon Ricci - First Mate
Jon has been involved with the Ship 6 program since 2009. He has both small and big boat experience including double handing and long distance racing. Jon has sailed on JY15s, hobie cats, J100, Pearson 37 and has participated in the Vineyard race, Block Island Race, and Block Island Race Week as well as other middle distance races. Jon is a huge help in the area of maintenance and racing. Jon is a member of the Norwalk Sail and Power Squadron and is currently serving as Secretary. He has a CT Boaters license and has completed advanced power squadron courses including Weather, Engine Maintenance, Sail, Seamanship and Piloting. Jon is trained in both CPR and first aid and is Sea Scout Leader Trained.
Caroline "CC" Olmo - Mate
"CC" enjoys sailing and particularly big boat long distance racing. She has experience on both big and small boats and has participated in the Block Island Race, Vineyard Race and Stratford Shoal races. CC is a member of the Norwalk Sail and Power Squadron and has successfully completed advanced courses in Sail, Seamanship and Piloting. She has a CT Boaters license. In addition to sailing with Ship 6, CC maintains her own 25ft sailing boat. She has 2 small children and also loves to ski.
Sea Scouting is part of the Venturing division of the Boy Scouts of America. Venturing offers the opportunity to participate in an area of special interest. We, as Sea Scouts, have chosen the sea and sailing.
If this doesn't sound like the Boy Scouts you remember, that's because it's not! The differences are many. Sea Scouts is only for teenagers (14 - 21), it is co-ed, the program is run by the members of the Ship (leaders are there to teach, assist and advise), there are no knee socks and neckerchiefs in this program. The traditional scouting elements and ideals are taught and dealt with in a subtle way.
Each unit in Sea Scouting is called a "Ship". Each Ship has a local chartering organization; a church, school, club, organization or business. Each Ship has a committee, which is composed of adult volunteers, an adult "skipper" and assistant, to help with organization and administration. The key principle of Sea Scouting is that the crew of the Ship is responsible for the program, and especially their boat.
Ship 6 has been around for a long time. The Ship was founded in 1957 by Len Jacob and is the best kept secret on Long Island Sound. It started out as a small dingy boat program and over the years became a keel boat program to what is it today, a very active big boat program. Ship 6 has been based in Norwalk since the beginning. For the last 15 or so years we have called Norwalk Cove Marina "home" and appreciate the marina's ongoing support.
Skippers:
2006 - present Kai Horan
2005-2006 Kai Horan and Marcy Montgomery
1982-2005 Bill Austin
1980-1982 Chris Elsberry
1957-1980 Len Jacob
Primary training vessels:
Celebration II (Tripp 37) - 2010 to present
Celebration (IOR Custom 40) - 1995 to 2010
Tangerine
- ? to 1995
A message from the Founder's son
April, 2010
Hello. My father Leonard Jacob started the ship and I am so proud to see it is still going strong.
Back in 1960 the president of Guldens Mustard donated a 110 foot motor yacht that guzzled 5o gallons an hour of diesel fuel. That was when my mother was pregnant with me (I was born 1960) needless to say we did not operate that ship for to long. We do have pictures of it.
It is volunteers like you that help guide the kids of today to be the men and women of tomorrow. I sincerely thank you for your time and effort.
Back when I was involved it was not co-ed but I was there when it changed to co-ed. Along with sailing we did iceboating (yes we had one of those too, under our front porch.) We went camping in all 4 seasons as well as camping at Port Jeff for regattas. We went on ski trips.... dues were $1 per week.
At one point we operated 13 vessels ranging from row boats to Boston Whalers to a Star Class racing sailboat that was the 52nd one made. My dad worked very hard to progress Ship 6 to where you have maintained it today. He was finally able to get his dream boat "Tangerine" while he was diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. During a storm it sank off the mud flats at Vets park and we did not have the heart to tell him while he was on his deathbed. We raised her up and got her back sailing with the help of many friends and colleagues.
I have many fond memories of my days with my dad and friends with Ship 6. My brother in law Chris Elsberry took it over in the interim after the passing of my dad. Bill Austin took it to another level. I know you will continue to improve it and teach these boys and girls most importantly the life lessons they will learn through you. Again thank you for what you do.
Take care and smooth sailing
Sincerely Kurt Jacob