Young Mariners: Local Boy Scouts learning ancient craft of sailing

It’s an ancient craft.

Gripping the halyards, pulling the sails in at precisely the right angle, harnessing the wind.

Mariners have brought the wind under their command for centuries, using it to take them to far away places. This week Boy Scouts from throughout the Valley are learning that skill at Sea Base in Florida.

“We have learned seven nautical knots,” said Mason Hohnadel, 15, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1701 in Harlingen.

Mason is one of 16 Scouts spending almost 10 days at Florida National High Adventure Sea Base learning seamanship and teamwork. The boys have been learning how to sail an 80-foot schooner off the Florida Keys.

“It’s a great opportunity to see the coral reef, which is a national park,” said Eric Kennedy, scoutmaster for Troop 1701.

Kennedy was referring to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which protects the third largest living coral barrier reef system in the world, says it’s website. He was unable to accompany the boys, but several other parents did.

Friday the boys were having a blast, standing in the rigging, snorkeling about the reef, cooking on deck, all beneath the Florida sun. Their three-master schooner “Bloody Pirate” was standing true. They were only into the first couple of days of their trip, and already they had learned and seen a great deal.

“We learned how to use the jib and how to tack,” Mason said.

Kennedy, his scoutmaster, explained that sailing requires teamwork.

“They pull the line to make the jib go up,” Kennedy said. “One Scout sails the boat.”

The jib is the smaller sail in front and the larger main sail is located to the stern, or back, of the boat. Through the use of the halyards and the two sails, the scouts learned how to tack, or move the boat back and forth into the wind. Obviously, this requires a group effort.

Everything on this trip is a group effort.

“We’ve been doing some snorkeling around some of the reef and we found a wreck,” Mason said. “We found some huge lobster.”

Sadly they couldn’t keep the lobster. They’re out of season. However, the boys have been deep sea fishing for some of their meals, one of them being a mackerel. It was a keeper, as were the five Moses fish also captured by the Scouts.

“We fillet them and we’re saving them for ceviche,” said Colin Campbell, 15, a Life Scout with Troop 142 of Harlingen. Colin’s been having a great time, too.

“We went out farther into the ocean to do some snorkeling,” Colin said. “We were in 12 feet of water. There were a lot of colorful fish. One of the kids said he saw a reef shark.”

He wasn’t sure about the reef shark, but he is sure he’s glad he could take the trip.

“I am very happy to be able to do something like this,” he said.

They were happy even in spite of relentless efforts by the weather to make them feel otherwise.

“There’s been some weather here and that’s added to the excitement,” said Pierre Souffrant, 16. “There were some waves which made it kind of hard, pots and pans falling. I am enjoying the trip so far.”

One of the Scouts from Troop 1701, Joshua Comisky, is celebrating his 14th birthday while sailing the warm Atlantic waters. His mother Jocelyt was delighted he was having the experience.

“This is really wonderful for him,” she said. “This is his first time traveling outside of Texas.”

Sea Base has provided a fine setting to make learning fun.

“I’ve learned some knots,” said William Bell, 15, of Troop 1701.

“It’s really fun, it’s really interesting.”

So much activity, challenge and learning come sometimes makes slowing down difficult.

“There’s a lot of stuff going around,” he said. “Getting to sleep is a little challenging.”

The Scouts have been posting “anchor watch” at night, a two-hour shift to keep an eye on things while everyone is asleep. Pierre said the skies have been pretty clear, allowing a fine view of the stars, which once guided the ancient mariners across the world.

Other scouts taking part include Jonah Benitez and Bradley Nordike. Anita Hohnadel also made the trip with the scouts.