The Andersons Bay group's best previous national regatta results had been two fourth-place finishes, most recently in the late 1990s.
Group leader Greg Verhoef said the "pretty amazing" result had come against the odds, given that the Andersons Bay contingent of 13 youth members was one of the smaller teams among the 18 taking part in the demanding six day regatta, which ended in the middle of last week.
Several hundred sea scouts took part.
The Andersons Bay team members were accompanied by three leaders: Mr Verhoef, venturers leader Gareth Williams (23) and scout leader Anthony Henderson.
The 26th National Sea Scout Regatta was won by a more than 40-strong team from New Lynn, Auckland.
The regatta proved highly demanding. Participants, in junior, intermediate and senior sections took part in more than a dozen events, including rowing, sailing, swimming, an iron man race, and practical and theoretical tests of seamanship.
Mr Verhoef said the group's success partly reflected a "can do" attitude by youth participants and Mr Williams' inspirational influence.
The Terra Nova-Monowai Sea Scout Group from Dunedin took second place in the senior Sunburst event.
