MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A brisk breeze rolls ripples across the water. The sun gleams down on it like a mirror. The conditions are just right for such an event. As the tension builds up, an eerie silence is present. Canoes form a near perfect line inside the Gotschalk Marina, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Navy sailors from various units throughout 2nd Marine Division competed in the first ever Sailor’s Cup that lasted five days extending from May 12-16, 2014. One event each day will determine who goes home the champion at the end of the week.
“It’s been very competitive,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Derrick Clopton, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, “All these guys coming together from different battalions really are pushing themselves to be number one come Friday.”
The event was held to help boost morale among the troops.
“As we’re shifting back from a wartime force to a peacetime force it’s something that we’re doing to bring all the units together and build camaraderie and esprit de corps,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas Gaston, religious program specialist for 2nd Marine Division.
Gaston stated that this is the first year that the Sailor’s Cup has been held, and there are plans to make it an annual event.
The Sailor’s Cup allowed the unique opportunity for the sailors to interact with the other units and see how well they competed against each other.
The competitive spirit already has the sailors thinking about next year’s competition.
“I look forward to seeing what the other teams are going to bring next year,” said Clopton.