Sea Cadets - What are they taught?

awol

awol

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 Jan 2005
Messages
6,962
Location
Me - Edinburgh; Boat - in the west
Visit site
.... and while I'm in a grumpy mood ..... I have come across TS Vigilant and TS City Liveryman in Puilladobhrain on two occasions recently and on both, by the time I've been thrown out the Troosers, ensigns (defaced blues) have still been hanging at their sterns.
 
That surprises me. I saw Vigilant in the locked basin in St. Malo a few years ago obviously practicing leaving the berth and coming alongside again. She must have done half a dozen circuits round the dock tieing up and casting off each time. Every time the last line came off somebody scrurried out to the end of the bowsprit and took down the union jack. As soon as they were secured alongside again off he went and put it back up again.
 
I was in the cadets, TS Ulster. We learnt how to capsize toppers and lasers.

To be fair, I did a lot of powerboat handling courses, canoeing, rowing. About everything going because I thought sailing was boring back then. Funny how times change.

I remember being PO cadet and sending a couple of guys out in a sailing dinghy with no bung in on purpose. It was funny at the time. Still is actually.
 
AWOL let me refer you to an organization called TS Rebel. You can easily google it.

This is a training establishment setup some 35 years ago to provide sea time to young children of the Sea Cadet Corps. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first youngsters through their doors.

They gave me a Greta education in offshore sailing and helped me gain my YM tickets at an early age. After finishing as a cadet I became an instructor for them, putting back a little of what I took out.

25 years after joining that group I then used the skills they gave me to change career and skipper private yachts.

The said organization has had 1000s of youngsters aboard their yachts learning the RYA syllabus. I have lost count the number of yachmasters they have got qualified.

Some of the cadets are now driving ships or big yachts, managing IT business for the marine industry etc.

By the way this organization is a charity and effort put in is by volunteers, your country ( I'm an expat now thanks to the SCC) could do with a lot more people and centers like this.

The main guy for his efforts was awarded an MBE. A few years ago so someone thinks he's doing a good job other than me.

Enjoy looking at the website, I think there is a donation page as well.

Yours

TS REBEL TRUSTEE.
 
Aye, but even the RYA are aware of the naval tradition started by Samuel Peyps, Chief Secretary to the Admiralty to Charles II and James VII when he wasn't blogging, that ensigns should be struck between sunset and sunrise (later amended to include 0800 & 2100). As an organisation modelled on the RN I would have thought naval traditions (though rum, sodomy and the lash are now somewhat frowned on) would have formed part of their training. There is also the wee matter of masking the stern lights of the Tradewind 35s at night.
 
OH come on, how many yachts strike their ensigns! Yes perhaps they should in the tradition but do you have to belittle yourself by making comments as petty as that really.

How do you know they mask the lights at night? If it's genuine then you should either challenge the skipper or report him to SCC head office. You can find this number on the Internet.

What I would say though is, if you are so good why not go and volunteer and show them where they are going wrong.

It is all to easy to criticize whilst sat in a nice comfy seat.

Remember these instructors are generally VOLUNTEERS they might get some help with expenses etc but most of them give freely of their time.

My friend is in touch with the Sea Cadet Offshore office so if you want to PM me your contact details we will gladly forward them on.

By the way you have in a public forum berated a large organization for the misdemeanor of a few... Congratulations I hope you feel that you have accomplished something worthwhile today.
 
Last edited:
I clambered into a canoe on Monday night; not a pretty sight as I've not done so in over 25 years. We went past the local Sea Cadets building and there was a lot of shouting, left, right, left right. Then they all dashed out in some life jackets and did some rope work on a pontoon.
 
Last edited:
My son is in TS Canonteign, and they really are well taught by very dedicated individuals giving freely of their own free time, but there are many different ages and abilities all together and sometimes minor thinks go awry.

I'd sooner kids spend there time doing something so worthwhile, and certainly wouldn't be complaining about it, given the myriad negative influences and things that kids are exposed to nowadays. You should really be patting them on the back, or as mentioned above, if something is getting on your nerves so much why not be friendly and helpful to them instead.
 
From my experience, a lot of ensign wearers do leave them up 24/7, some even when the boat is parked unoccupied, but that doesn't make it right. The Sea Cadets have the privilege of a defaced blue, Royal patronage, RN support and it seems reasonable to me that they should have some respect for this support and the traditions of their sponsors. You, however, seem to dismiss this as petty. As for me, I try to remember to strike my ensign before I leave the boat, raise the burgee before the ensign and lower it after, hoist it at 0800 and strike at 2100 or sunset. Sometimes I fail and sometimes the piss is taken out of me for even bothering.

As for the rest ....... so the instructors are VOLUNTEERS - is that really a valid excuse for lack of etiquette? And is a mild comment on ensign etiquette really "berating"?
 
Your post title is what I have a problem with. It is calling into question the work of many people many of whom do an excellent job.

I cannot argue the fact that the ensign should be taken down at the times you mention. In TS Rebel we made a thing of it by parading the crew in their uniform. Piping the steel and the carry on. It used to create a lot of fuss in the harbour and at quiet anchorages but that was part of the fun.

Your comment is made of a couple of boats which take circa 5 cadets per boat per week for 9 months so in total 360 if no one returns.

I don't know how many children are in the Sea Cadets but I would imagine it is a fair few. These children are doing sailing, motor boating, parade, adventure training all sorts of activities.

So I've given you a raft of positive stuff and all you can say is they don't take the flag down at the right time if at all....

I am sure here are sea cadet units that would love to have access to your boat with your knowledge to train the kids. Go ahead call them up teach them to tie knots, splice ropes, rules of the road, ETIQUETTE. Please don't say what do they get taught based on one minor thing
 
Just to clarify, as I'm a bit confused..

Did someone actually post a topic, berating some youth training organisation for not taking down their ensign?

I thought most sailing dinosaurs were dead, as we regularly make fun of the mythical blazer-wearing club bore, but it seems that they're not entirely extinct. Yet.
 
chrisbitz said:
Just to clarify, as I'm a bit confused..

Did someone actually post a topic, berating some youth training organisation for not taking down their ensign?

I thought most sailing dinosaurs were dead, as we regularly make fun of the mythical blazer-wearing club bore, but it seems that they're not entirely extinct. Yet.
Click to expand...
He was, I think, trolling. Usually he's quite good at it but this was disappointing. Like the sea cadets, must try harder.
 
He probably found his little stone and crawled back under it.

Perhaps others should follow suit. "Like the Sea Cadets, must try harder". Another stupid comment....is there some thing in the water in Scotland? Bring on the referendum, only sad thing about that is the English don't get to vote.....
 
When I was in the Sea Cadets (London, 1960s) we were taught self-reliance, team work, discipline, safety and risk assessment, boat handling, ropework, etc., etc. I'm sure we would have been observed committing various minor faux pas as we made our way around Portsmouth harbour (usually under oars) in our cutters and whalers, but most would have either ignored or been mildly amused by these, even if they didn't see the hugely positive bigger picture.
 
Well said LittleSister..

Likewise I'm sue I put the jib on upside down or tacked in front of someone. But we were taught many things, respect for others and the effort they put in was one of them.
 
Lozzer, while everything you said stands, I think the tone you took in addressing AWOL's posts was a woeful overreaction.

I've seen this kind of thing a few times from people associated with something under question (the recent one was an overreaction about someone questioning the friendliness of a "friendly" club that failed to wave back). The snottyness of your response does nobody any favours. That you followed up with your nasty little "roll on the referendum" and the insinuation that the English will be glad to see the back of them sums it up nicely.


All AWOL had said was:
Sea Cadets - What are they taught?
.... and while I'm in a grumpy mood ..... I have come across TS Vigilant and TS City Liveryman in Puilladobhrain on two occasions recently and on both, by the time I've been thrown out the Troosers, ensigns (defaced blues) have still been hanging at their sterns.
Click to expand...
That's it. No bad light cast on anyone or anything. A situation and a question.

Your first response out of the gate was an all out attack as if he'd slated everyone and everything in the entire organisation.

Chill out. You may be taking things a little too personally.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top