50th Scout Guide Regatta 2013

This year was the 50th Scout Guide regatta, held down at Snug and attended by about 1000 Scouts and Guides of all different ages (they even let Cubs come this year!). Most of our troop attended, and we had quite a noticeable presence in among the tents because Skip (Georgie) and a few of the Scouts set up a massive teepee … which I totally forgot to photograph. (It was however, close to 4m tall, and about 6m in diameter.) The kids had a great time taking part in the water activities, with some particularly impressive dinghy rowing performances in our little dinghy Bob (most clearly visible in the second photo below).

This was the last camp for quite a few of our older kids, and they managed to pull of an impressive effort in George Bass, which is our big and notoriously heavy patrol boat (patrol boats have 6 rowers and a cox), getting it into fourth place in a field of 14. I contributed to a few leader events, but am going to have to take my own kayak next time because — hmmm — I’m too broad in the beam for the narrower faster boats, and the Minnows we have wallow. (It would also help if I were fitter!)

Anyway, a good time was had by all over the weekend. The weather was mizzly but mild, and I had another chance to try sailing (without copping a boom in the face this time). The final photo shows the whole troop (minus Skip who was off organising some other pressing matters), shortly after the opening ceremony.