This event is designed to provide older Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts with the opportunity to experience a week of sailing including a three day, two night, boating cruise, under sail, on the James River. Life aboard is not a luxury cruise, rather it is a continuous learning experience aboard a working sailboat. All members of the crew will be needed to successfully operate their boat while underway.  Participants should treat these boats like their home, because they will be while underway.

Monday will consist of crew and equipment introductions along with learning the basic elements of sailing.  Some of these items will include but are not limited to, parts of a boat, terminology, sailing practices and customs, first aid and emergency action procedures.  In the afternoon we will practice setting sail and leaving the moorings while under sail and then returning.  Tuesday will consist of more sailing experience and knowledge being taught to the participants while sailing the waters near camp on the James River.

The cruise will start on Wednesday of the selected week and return by Friday afternoon. Its itinerary will be to Chickahominy River where the boats will anchor overnight. On Thursday the cruise will continue to an anchorage in the vicinity of Jamestown Settlement, which is about 10 miles to northeast of Pipsico, where lunch will be provided at the Jamestown Settlement restaurant and touring of the area will be encouraged. Friday we will set sail back to Pipsico.

Each boat will have as an instructor, an adult supervisor who is experienced in sailing cruising boats in the area. The event will also be supported by Camp Lions at Pipsico Scout Reservation, in that the participants will camp and eat there during their work up and after they return. Also provisions for the cruise will be provided by the camp.
All participants onboard will be taught skills that will allow them to operate their boat as a crew. Watch rotations are set for duty stations and galley duty. Duty Stations include but are not limited to the Lookout, Officer of the Deck, Navigator, Sail Trimmer, and Helmsman. Those not assigned to a duty station are required to assist wherever and whenever they are needed.

All meals while underway (unless otherwise noted in the Typical Schedule section of this guide) are prepared on-board. Facilities on board the sailboats include running water and a stove/oven.

The crew is also responsible for the general up-keep and maintenance of the boat. Crews are expected to keep their vessels neat and tidy at all times.  This is just not for atheistic reasons alone, but while a sailing vessel is at sea, improperly stowed equipment can pose a safety hazard to those on board.

Every week the participants have new and fun filled experiences with Sail the James. Participants are guaranteed to come home with knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime!

Don’t forget; if you or your youth enjoyed this program; ask about our follow-up program, Sail Hampton Roads. This program takes you on a cruise that departs Monday morning and arrives back Friday night. Go to http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/pipsico for more information.