The Sea Cadets

We maintain a small fleet of offshore vessels comprising:

Two Tradewind 35 yachts, TS CITY LIVERYMAN and TS VIGILANT which take 5 Cadets and one adult plus the staff skipper. A Westerly yacht, TS LEOPOLD MULLER, is part of the fleet currently based at Walton-on-the-Naze.

TS JOHN JERWOOD, our 24-metre power-training ship, which came into service in 2002 and has berths for 12 Cadets and two adults, with a permanent crew of four.

TS ROYALIST, our 29-metre square-rigged sailing brig, which takes, in addition to the permanent staff, 24 Cadets and two adults at a time.

Cadets join on a Saturday and then become the working crew until the following Friday. The voyage itinery will depend on the prevailing weather conditions but whenever possible foreign ports will be included.Port visits in the week provide opportunities for local Units to visit the vessels. Representaional duties are also undertaken.

Both Cadets and adults alike often describe their trip as the experience of a lifetime, during which they are stretched mentally, physically and socially. Whilst living, eating and sleeping aboard the ship, Cadets are able to put into practice the basic training which they have been given at their Units ashore, while picking up the many skills involved in actually sailing the ship.

They also develop their leadership and teamwork skills, learning to appreciate the benefits of being a member of a like-minded team. A sail cannot be raised unless the team is working together properly! Above all else, they learn self-discipline and co-operation, since they are reliant on one another for their safety.

Our offshore vessels are equipped for training towards RYA (Royal Yachting Association) qualifications.

The charges for our berths compare very favourably with the rates charged elsewhere, and there are a number of bursaries available so that Cadets are able to take up these opportunities, regardless of their personal circumstances. Our ships are also made available to other uniformed youth organisations in the UK. A poster giving each vessel's programme is published in the autumn for the following year.

Click here for the 2008 Offshore programme.