Planning your visit
Information for new and returning ships, families and volunteers. For help with your plans, email info@swrendezvous.org.
General
What is Southwestern Rendezvous?
Rendezvous brings Sea Scout ships together for seamanship competition and fellowship. Crews compete on the water and ashore, with youth leading their teams and adult volunteers judging and supporting the event.
What is a Sea Scout ship?
A ship is a local Sea Scout unit. At Rendezvous, a competing team may represent one ship or combine members of several ships. The bos’n is the team’s youth leader.
Who organizes the event?
Southwestern Rendezvous is produced by Sea Scout Fall Event, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, with the work of youth and adult volunteers.
Registration and fees
How does ship registration work?
Create an account for committee review and select your ship. Begin with estimated attendance, then add the names of everyone attending. Use the ship portal for waivers, event times, service details and payments. The Registration page lists current dates, fees and deadlines.
Judging and volunteering
How do adults qualify for the lower registration rate?
Adults registering with a ship need 2 confirmed shifts to receive the lower adult rate. Adults with fewer shifts pay the higher rate. An application for placement does not qualify until the required assignments are confirmed. The invoice updates when assignments change.
Can I judge if I have not done it before?
New volunteers can sign up as assistants and learn an event alongside an experienced head judge. If you would like help finding a role, submit a judging application with your experience and availability. Independent volunteers are welcome.
Competition
Where can our crew find the rules?
The Rendezvous Manual describes the events, procedures, scoring and awards. Check the edition shown on each event page and in Documents. An earlier manual is a reference for that year; current arrangements may differ.
Can a new or small ship take part?
The 2025 manual allows smaller ships to combine and describes training attempts arranged with the head judge. Contact the committee to discuss your team and confirm the arrangements for the event you plan to attend.
Who is eligible to compete?
The 2025 manual lists registered Scouts aged 14–20 on the first day of competition who meet Sea Scouting membership requirements. Check the applicable edition and contact the committee if you need help confirming eligibility.
How does a bos’n raise a concern about an event?
The 2025 manual requires a written protest to the area judge within one hour of the incident, stating the ship, time, event, problem and proposed solution. Scuttle-Off, Hell Drill and Drill-Off cannot be protested. The protest committee’s decisions are final. General feedback is separate from a formal protest.
Camping and venue
What should we know about camping and meals?
Current inclusions and fees are listed on the Registration page. Ships camping on site bring their own tents. Include dietary requirements and accommodation requests when registering so the committee can plan with you.
Are swim checks required?
The 2025 manual requires a current certified swim check for water events and describes the documentation to bring. Review the applicable manual and your ship’s registration requirements before attending.
Can families visit, and how do we request accommodations?
The 2025 manual welcomes families and other visitors with advance registration and an appropriate visitor fee. It also describes participation accommodations arranged in advance. Contact the committee to confirm current visitor arrangements or discuss an accommodation request.