South OC Teens Claim Prestigious Sailing Award In San Pedro

DANA POINT, CA — Over the weekend, 29 teenagers from Dana Point Harbor competed with youths from across California in a BSA Sea Scout competition known as the Sea Scout Fall Event in San Pedro.

The Dana Point teens are part of an organization known as the Mariners. During the competition, the Mariners demonstrated their prowess in maritime skills by taking the coveted Clipper Award, which is earned by scoring over 75 percent of the overall events.

According to a Mariners news release, the teens took first place in many of the 21 trials and are now well prepared to sail and cruise the 40 vessels of the South Coast Sailing Team.

The three-day event was held in San Pedro at the Cabrillo Beach Sports Center and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.

The teens spent the last two months preparing for the event, diligently learning, training and practicing. The skills they learned were as diverse as climbing a line, swimming, navigating and operating power, sail and rowing vessels.

The South Coast Sailing Team, led by Jim Wehan for 47 years, is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to serving the youth of the county through the Mariner Programs in Dana Harbor.

Wehan said that he and the other 50 adult volunteers in the nonprofit could not be prouder of these Mariners and what they have achieved.

To learn more about the Mariners 936 Sea Scouts of Dana Point Harbor, visit their website.