Warsash Sea Cadets undertook an offshore sail training voyage with Rona Sailing Project, between 7-13th April 2025, involving 8 cadets and 2 volunteers. The voyage took place on Sailing Yacht Merrilyn, a 65-foot schooner. The cadets onboard had varying sailing experience, some new to yachts through to very experienced dinghy/yacht sailors. The voyage provided the opportunity to develop the sailing skills alongside the team work, problem solving, communication and leadership skills. The week included cadets being involved with navigation, rope work, setting sails, sail changes, helming, night sailing, nights at anchor, cooking, cleaning and exploring new places. Sailing 197nm during the week. All cadets gained their RYA Competent Crew Certificate and depending on their age earned the Scott or Amory Award for giving it their best.
Thank you to the Ulysses Trust providing a grant towards the cost of this voyage!
Daily reports as written by the cadets:
7th April – Hey this is Port Watch.
Today we have joined Merrilyn in Universal Marina, where we embarked on our adventure. We met the crew, put our oilies away and had some safety briefs before we set off. Port Watch helped make a lunch of pasties and beans while motoring out of the river. We completed a quick man over board exercise, then we all worked together to put up the sails up and tacked East before gybing back west. We dropped anchored for the night in a bay near Cowes and Starboard watch cooked us a lovely dinner with banoffee pie. Everyone helped with the washing up and we are now settling down for the night.
Hunnie, Joe, Mason and Matthew Port Watch
8th April – Hey, reporting from Starboard Watch
We started off the morning with filling breakfast wraps which Port Watch happily made for us. We then started our journey from the anchorage towards Weymouth, hoisted the main and fore main sail, then passed through the needles and named the different buoys whilst giving the Praine family a wave. We hanked on the Yankee 1 sail and hoisted. During the day we saw dolphins and practiced our knots. We anchored for lunch in Warbarrow Bay. Emily and Sam made a delicious pasta bake and Ellis lay the table. Then we brought the anchor up and put everything away and had a rest. We took turns at helming, filling in the logbook and plotting fixes on the chart. We prepared lines and fenders to come into Weymouth. In boat murder game, 7 people are down (no actual murders). Showers were welcomed in Weymouth. Followed by Cottage pie and cheesecake for dinner, which were very good. Chilled evening before bed.
Emily, Ellis, Logan and Sam Starboard Watch
