Leadership Through Adventure Fund
In January 2024, Western Australian Scout Theo embarked on a six-day Fremantle Sea Trek Adventure run by the Department of Transport’s Marine Education Boatshed (MEG), supported by Scout Leaders and adult volunteers.
Four sea boat crews took part, each with three to four youth members. Adult helpers provided support within eyesight or radio contact for much of the journey, while allowing opportunities for the crews to travel and camp independently when conditions permitted. Leaders followed in the Safety Support Boat, maintaining minimal contact once the crews demonstrated competency.
Preparation before the voyage
Before setting out, the crew attended a three-day pre-camp where they completed training in advanced boating skills, chart and map reading, Sea Trek safety protocols, and motoring procedures.
Theo explained, “It is a requirement for all members of the crew to complete advanced boating skills training and achieve our recreational skipper tickets before attending the Sea Trek voyage. We all studied and supported each other for the assessment, ensuring we had the right skills to control the boat and handle the challenges ahead of us.”
The Voyage
The crew began their voyage in calm waters during the morning, before facing choppier seas later in the day.
“I found navigating through choppy water quite difficult, as it pushes the boat sideways. If you’re using a compass, the bearing can be thrown off.” recalled Theo.
Despite the challenges, Theo valued the experience: learning how to sail and anchor a boat, developing navigation skills, practising radio procedures and route planning, driving a boat responsibly, and connecting with other Scouts and Venturer Scouts from Western Australia. Most importantly, the crew achieved their recreational skipper tickets – an essential life skill for anyone who owns, or plans to own, a boat.
Lessons learned
Thorough planning and risk assessment before the voyage were key to the success of the journey. This included preparing routes with weather conditions in mind and adjusting plans when the sea state changed.
“My crew worked well together, and that gave me the confidence to make decisions to change the route plan while keeping the safety of the crew as the priority.” reflected Theo.
He also offered one piece of light-hearted advice, “I’d recommend the event to anyone interested. The skills you gain – and the recognition of the recreational skipper ticket – are a real bonus. But if I did it again, I’d avoid cooking pancakes on an outdoor stove – cleaning up is a job for the whole crew!”
Thank you, Dick and Pip Smith – Leadership Through Adventure Fund (LTAF) for the financial support to make this sea trek adventure possible. Theo is looking forward to his next adventure to Kokoda and planning for a possible trip to Nepal next year. If you are planning for an adventure and like to learn more about how Leadership Through Adventure Fund (LTAF) can support your plan into reality, contact the LTAF team to submit your enquiry to LTAF@scouts.com.au, or click below link to find out more.
More photos from the adventure
