Westlake | Bay Village Observer Article

Congratulations to 2015 Bay High graduate, Nathan Cullinan, on receiving the Quartermaster Award, the highest rank in Sea Scouts. The award was presented to Nate after he sat through a Board of Review composed of four scout leaders with over a hundred years’ experience. Nate was quizzed on his leadership skills and the lessons learned during his tenure in Sea Scouts. The board was particularly challenging as it was chaired by Mark Bobal, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander.

Mr. Bobal, who presently serves as the Passenger Vessel Safety Specialist for the 9th Coast Guard District stated that, “Nate was ready for all the questions we could send his way.” The nautical questions which Mr. Bobal asked stemmed from his service on board the Arctic Icebreaker, CGC Westwind and over 30 years in the Marine Safety Inspection field.

Nate has been involved in the Bay Seat Scouts for five years. In that time he has tackled many projects including leading a group of youth in building underwater remote operated vessels (ROVs) for competitions sponsored by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center. He also oversaw the completion of the Rolling Tide, a floating 8-foot hamster wheel, made from recycled Tide bottles. The Sea Scouts entered the Rolling Tide in the Great Lake Erie Boat Float at Edgewater Park.

Last year Nate competed in the International Koch Cup Regatta in Long Beach, California, sailing with over 80 Sea Scouts from countries ranging from Australia to Poland. Nate came in second in the Kiwi Division. Before Nate heads off to college at the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) in Bristol, Rhode Island, he will sail on the tall ship, S/V Dennis Sullivan, as a chaperon for other students.  This tall ship program is sponsored by the Cleveland Rotary project YESS program.

Nate’s leadership and mechanical skills repairing engines and rigging on the Sea Scout boats will be sorely missed as he heads off to IYRS; but we wish him well as he continues his studies in Composite Technology and Marine Systems.