William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup Explained

William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup
Type:Biennial Event
Founders:Founder
Founder:Bill Koch
Chiefscouttitle3:Founded
Chiefscout3:2002
Website:seascoutcup.org
Affiliation:Boy Scouts of America

The William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup is a biannual Sailing Regatta put on by the William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup Association, Inc. in conjunction with the Sea Scouting (Boy Scouts of America). The event was founded by Bill Koch in 2002 in order to allow Sea Scouts from around the world to compete. The original National Sea Scout Sailing Championship began in the 1930s but went dormant when Sea Scouts left the program to serve in World War II.[1] Today Sea Scouts from around the world gather for a week of friendly competition. Scouts from Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, and the United States have participated.[2]

History

After nearly half a century since there was a Sea Scout national sailing competition, the Sea Scouts program asked Bill Koch if he would be interested in reviving the championship that had been dormant since World War II. Koch requested that the regatta be open to Scouts from around the world in order to foster international understanding and camaraderie.

The Koch Cup

Bill Koch president of the America³ Foundation, Inc. commissioned Asprey’s of London, the silversmith who made the original America's Cup trophy, to manufacture the William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup. The trophy referred to as The Koch Cup is made of silver and stands thirty-four inches tall. America³ Foundation, Inc. transferred the Cup to the National Scouting Museum where it is on display in the national Boy Scout Office in Irving, Texas[3] when not on loan to the Koch Cup or the America³ Foundation, Inc.

Kiwi Cup

Teams qualify on the first few days of the cup. Sea Scouts in the top half of the fleet qualify for the Koch Fleet and the rest qualify for the Kiwi Fleet. The Kiwi Cup was donated by the Sea Scouts of New Zealand in 2000. It is an authentic Maori carved statue that is presented to the winners of the Kiwi Fleet.[4]

Results

YearLocationHostWinner of Koch CupWinner of Kiwi Cup
2002Chicago, ILColumbia Yacht Club Thomas Hartman and Trevor Gurley[5] P Cotera and J Cotera
2004Buzzards Bay, MAMassachusetts Maritime Academy Trevor Gurley and Corey Kemp[6] Erling Guderud and Siri Neslein
2006Miami, FLCoral Reef Yacht Club Corey Kemp and John Harada[7] Andrew Scheuermann and Danielle Meeker
2008Annapolis, MDUnited States Naval Academy Patrick Arlington[8] Eric Johnson and Levi White
2010New London, CTUnited States Coast Guard Academy[9] Cody Stansky and Andrew Britton[10] [11] Barchan Rodgers and Abby King
2012Vallejo, CACalifornia Maritime Academy[12] Jack Donnell and Brooke Stinson[13] [14] Mathew Rozario and Colin Bartels
2014Long Beach, CALong Beach Yacht Club[15] Ben Brough and Laura Roudebush[16] Andrew Berkowitz and Isabella Rudrow
2016Long Beach, CALong Beach Yacht Club Nicholas Gardiner and Nicholas Williams [17] Teagan Foley and Mick Foley
2018Galveston, TXSea Star Base Galveston Max Katz-Christy and Thomas Craciun Robert Gustke and Andrew York
2020Galveston, TXSea Star Base GalvestonCanceled due to COVID‐19Pandemic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 Koch Cup Press Release .
  2. Web site: Sea Scouts from around the world match skills in the 10th Koch Cup help on Carquinez Strait . Contra Costa Times .
  3. Web site: California Team Takes 2014 William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup. Sea Scouts, BSA.
  4. Web site: 2006 Koch Cup Press Release .
  5. Web site: 2002 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  6. Web site: 2004 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  7. Web site: 2006 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  8. Web site: 2008 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  9. Web site: Quest for the Cup in New London . The Day .
  10. Web site: 2010 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  11. Web site: Teen sailors win Sea Scout Cup sailing championship . The Palm Beach Post .
  12. Web site: Sea Scouts the world over sail for glory at Vallejo's Cal Maritime . Vallejo Times Herald .
  13. Web site: 2012 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  14. Web site: Donnell, Stinson win Koch Cup . The Daily Pilot .
  15. Web site: ON THE WATER: Flying Junior Sailboats Scout For Cup . The Long Beach Gazette .
  16. Web site: 2014 Koch Cup Champions . William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup .
  17. Web site: Marlborough duo claim William I Koch International Sea Scout Cup sailing trophy in California . Marlborough Express .