Sizzling Sea Cadet Summer
September 2005
With
the sea cadets there’s always loads
to do. This summer I managed to do three
week long “courses”. All at
a total cost of under £200 so my
Dad was really happy!
On the 22nd of July, me (Flo Oakley), Nicole Hughes and Kat Harris set off for 10 days on National Sea Cadet Summer Camp at HMS Excellent. We slept on the old warship HMS Bristol in a shared mess with beds three bunks high, it was very authentic warship accomodation. Throughout the week we did loads of exciting activities; scuba diving, sailing in yachts (and dinghy Bosuns and Picos), fun physical training, games and activities, sea survival, expedition training in the New Forest, fire-fighting; there was no way we could get bored!
Not only did we have lots to do but there were also lots of people to meet. There were cadets from all round the country and indeed the world with many international cadets from different countries, including America, Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Sweden. On the last night a disco was held, it was a really nice way to end the week; we all had a brilliant time.
On the 7th of August, Kat and I went to HMS Caledonia in Scotland to spend a week on a dinghy sailing course. We both had RYA Stage 1 and hoped to get stage 3. Everyday we went to Port Edgar where we would prepare our boats and then set sail in the Firth of Forth River. The scenery was fantastic. The sailing was excellent when the sea breeze came in and we spotted the occasional seal popping up to say hello, magic! By the end of the week we both were thrilled to have gained our RYA Stage 4 sailing qualification. But don’t think it was easy. We sailed all day and at night we had classes on the technical aspects, like tides etc.
On the 20th of August, me, Andrew and Kat has a weeks trip on TS Royalist, the Sea cadets tall-ship. During the week we sailed from Great Yarmouth to Middleburg, Holland, to Ostend, Belgium, to Dunkirk, France, to Ramsgate. We were thrilled when we found out we would be going to three foreign countries! The sailing was brilliant but there were a few occasions where it was very rough, we had gale force 7 winds, and a lot of the crew were seasick, this included me. Square riggers have their sails changed or adjusted by brave folk climbing the mast and then edging out onto the yard arms. Tasks that were foundto be frightening but fulfilling. They were securely clipped on at all times, so no real harm could have happened.Inded Flo reports, “It was great fun climbing the masts, particularly when we were sailing along and the boat was really swaying.” See photo library of the TS Royalist Trip here.
We were given shore leave at the different places we were harboured at and given the chance to explore all these new places. As there was only 24 cadets onboard and we were so cramped up together all week we all became very close. It was another fantastic week with the Sea Cadets.
"I have to say St Albans Sea Cadets gave me a brilliant summer," concluded Stags pupil Flo. "My brothers also went to summer camps and went on sailing courses, so they had a great time too."
There's no time to be bored with St Albans Sea Cadets, www.seacadetfun.com offers many fun opportunities and is open to boys and girls for 10 to 18 years and very inexpensive, with all uniform being provided. The unit always welcomes new faces, just turn up at 7pm on a Tuesday or Friday night, at the unit, which is just behind Westminster Lodge swimming pool. Why not give it a try, and make new friends and learn new skills, you’ve nothing to loose!
Also see photo library of the TS Royalist Trip here.
Flo Oakley September 2005