Iron Duke Sea Scouts show their mettle
After taking on all comers north of the Waitaki river, Nelson’s Iron Duke Sea Scouts have set their sights on some national silverware.
The scout group recently took part in the upper South Island Regional Easter regatta at St Arnaud, taking home all the major trophies for the second year running.
Activities included in the weekend regatta were sailing in standard scout cutters, rowing, sunburst sailing, seamanship, an ironman competition and swimming.
With home advantage and the largest contingent of participants at the regatta, Iron Duke was crowned top-performing sea scout group at the event.
Their achievement was all the more impressive for the fact that the upper south region stretches down as far as the Waitaki River and across to the West Coast.
Guest attendees for the weekend included the Te Ara O Kiwa Sea Scout Group from Bluff, although a group from Dunedin was unable to attend.
Iron Duke scout Leader Peter Kortegast said while unpredictable weather caused by Cyclone Cook had some left some regatta preparations up in the air, the event had, ultimately, gone smoothly.
‘‘We were doing some juggling on it right up to the last moment - as you can imagine some of the families in Christchurch like to keep their children quite close after the earthquake and things like that.’’
Buoyed by their Easter success, Iron Duke was now looking forward to more success at the upcoming national regatta at Porirua in December.
A strong showing at the previous national regatta at Devonport has motivated the Nelson scouts do well in 2017, Kortegast said.
Kortegast said both land and sea scouting in the Nelson zone had enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.
Established in 1921, Iron Duke Sea Scouts currently has 120 youth on board, consisting of a Keas group, two cub groups, two scout groups and a senior venturer unit, overseen by a good ratio of qualified leaders to kids.
‘‘We are right beside the sea and it’s a great avenue for kids to get their confidence in the water and we’re so blessed here - particularly where Iron Duke is, right beside the marina,’’ Kortegast said.
Iron Duke also played a prominent part in this year’s ANZAC Day commemorations by rowing their cutters up the Maitai River at the start of Nelson’s Dawn Service.