During the 2025 October half term 26 Sea Cadets aged 11 to 17 years and 5 adult volunteers from East District Sea Cadets embarked on a 1-week offshore sailing voyage on board the Baltic Trader Queen Galadriel and Bermudan Ketch Faramir, owned and operated by The Cirdan Sailing Trust and sailing out of Ipswich Beacon Marina. The Sea Cadet units involved were Boston, Leicester, Norwich, Wells-next-the-Sea and Wisbech.
Cadet Jess describes her experience:
“It was an absolutely fantastic week. I have never had a trip like it in my life, and I don’t think anything will ever compare to it. The crew over both of the boats were absolutely amazing and I have never met people like them. I’m very happy to say that I found somewhere I fit in and I’m very proud to say that a have sailed Faramir and QG.”
The aim of the voyage was for cadets of all ages and abilities to experience a week offshore on board the two sail training vessels. Whilst gaining qualifications was one of the goals it was by no means the primary one. This opportunity allowed the cadets to experience life on board at close quarters, to work with others they did not know and to develop and enhance their teamwork skills in an alien and somewhat challenging environment – and they did this in spades!!
Once all were on board the two vessels, food loaded and berths allocated the crews received their safety brief with the Faramir due out first thing the next morning.
Owing to the weather conditions, not unexpected in October, sailing was limited to local coastal waters but during the week the cadets and adult volunteers experienced sailing on both vessels. Each took turns at the wheel, navigating, setting sails and keeping anchor watch overnight. As well as the normal on-board ship-handling activities the cadets were also responsible for preparing and cooking their own meals and at times this was for both crews and meant catering for 40 people – no mean feat for the novice master chefs.
Junior Cadets Harry and Jack kept a diary during the week:
“The rain got really heavy and most of the crew went inside but I stayed out, After a while I was offered the job of steering Queen Galadriel, which obviously I said YES. It made me nervous but I really enjoyed it” Junior Cadet”
“We were up at 7.30 then go for breakfast. Then we were told what we would be doing today. Green watch had to clean the inside of the ship Including the toilets. They call this HAPPY HOUR for some reason?!”
Cadet Lily sums up her time on board in one sentence:
“It was a great week – I didn’t want to leave…”
During their time on board the cadets, a number of whom had never been away from home before, forged friendships and formed close-knit teams with friendly rivalries developing between the 2 crews. They helped each other out with the numerous tasks and duties associated with offshore sailing.
An adult volunteer commented on a cadet who had not been away from home before and has not had the confidence to do so – until now: “……..throughout the week on board you could see him grow within the group both in confidence and self-belief. This was a real challenge for him to undertake and yet he did it and has come away from it now saying that he wants to go offshore again as he really enjoyed the experience. A positive story for both him and his parents who are very happy with his progress in the cadets and with the opportunities that he is presented with.”
Ordinary Cadet Stanley had this to say about his first offshore trip: “Thank you for a wonderful experience. It was daunting to be taking a sailing trip at the end of October, worries about being cold and wet were certainly there. However the minute I arrived on board I felt at ease.
The QG was such a fabulous boat. I learnt lots of new skills, from cooking, cleaning and teamwork. I made some new friends and gained confidence. I also spent a lot of time away from my phone. I climbed the rigging, washed the deck. It was really good fun, the social evenings also were good”
The few who had been offshore in the past were ready, willing and able to use their experience to help the younger cadets and first-timers, exhibiting and enhancing their leadership qualities and ensuring everyone on board had a positive and productive time.
Commander (SCC) Noel Wheatley MBE RNR, CO of Wells-next-the-Sea Unit and organiser of the week said,
“Offshore adventures such as this, whether with the SCC offshore fleet or with other sail training providers are a great opportunity for young people to experience life at sea and meet a number of challenges head on and overcome their fears – whether it be heights, sailing in poor weather or being able to cope with being away from home in an alien and sometimes hostile environment. The cadets gained RYA qualifications but, more important than that, they all came away from the week with new friends, increased confidence, unique memories and a sense of achievement. Many thanks to The Ulysses Trust and our other funders for helping to make this trip possible and, of course, to our adult volunteers for giving up their time for the cadets.”
Comments received from parents include:
“I would just like to say a big thank you for organising this voyage with Cirdan, both had an amazing time and would both be first in line if another was organised. They have not stopped talking about it since they got in the car to come home”
“For the most part she was on Faramir. While still incredibly nervous at trying anything out of her comfort zone, she will usually give it a try. She has been sailing on our small boats and on the old Thames Barge Thalatta, but she tells me that this trip was the best – mostly because of the fast sailing on Faramir, but also because she met people from outside her normal district.”
“H sailed on Faramir, so got a good amount of sailing in, teasing out of her, what she actually did is a challenge, but I understand she helmed and handled sheets, helped to hank on sails and haul them up with the halyards, she also participated in bringing the boat alongside and tying up. She has a real fear of heights, but gave the ratlines a try and managed to get part way up the mast. She got soaked, but managed to keep her smile. Some years ago, she achieved her RYA Start Sailing and also ticked off a fair portion of Competent Crew in her RYA logbook, as you can imagine she was over the moon to finish her Competent Crew qualification – I think she has managed to tell everyone about that by now. For her the trip was incredibly positive, she gained a qualification, met new people and has lots of stories to tell her friends.”
