NORTHERN IRELAND DISTRICT SEA CADETS – A FANTASTIC YEAR

The Sea Cadets are expanding their numbers, with almost 600 cadets in Northern Ireland. The newest Sea Cadet Unit in Kilkeel was officially named this year as TS Daring and plans are well underway for a new unit in Enniskillen. There are also plans for a further two new units to be created under the Cadet Expansion Programme, with the first one hopefully opening later this year at Cookstown – pushing Sea Cadets west of the Bann for the first time since the 1960s. 
 
Over 1200 courses were applied for and attended by NI Cadets and Staff last year with 80 cadets amassing 400 Offshore Training Days onboard the Sea Cadet Flag Ship, TS Royalist, Training Ships John Jerwood and Jack Patchey and two Offshore Yachts. Our Flag Ship sailed into Belfast in August, the first NI visit since its launch in 2015, allowing dignitaries and local Sea Cadets to see around the new vessel. The first of two new 45′ Yachts has recently gone into fit out, to be launched later in 2017 followed closely by the second new Yacht due for launch in 2018. 
 
Sea Cadets therefore have been active on Sea, Land and in the Air with two cadets having received Pilots wings at RN Yeovilton. The NI Royal Marines Cadets represented Northern Ireland, Scotland and NE England at the 2016 Gibraltar Cup Competition held at The Commando Training Centre,  Lympstone, holding a respectful position. 

2016 brought a new dinghy Sailing Class to the Sea Cadets, RS Quests, designed in conjunction with the Sea Cadets themselves. NI took delivery of 16 new boats in time for the NI Team to travel to England attending the National Regatta. The Northern Ireland Kayak and Rowing Teams also attended London in September 2016 giving the other Sea Cadet Areas stiff competition. The NI Senior Girls Rowing Team won gold and the junior team won silver.  The Kayak team came a respectful second place.

      
 (Above left:TS Royalist arrives in Belfast; above right: New RS Quest on Belfast Lough)        

Sea Cadets are privileged to wear the uniform similar to the Royal Navy and give a presence in NI demonstrating smartness in Dress and bearing.  NI Sea Cadets, including Royal Marine Cadets have attended many events and engagements throughout the year including the Battle of Jutland Commemorations onboard HMS Caroline, Dervock and at Scappa Flow; Armed Forces Day in Antrim, the Battle of Trafalgar Commemorations in London; Belfast Maritime Festival and the Belfast Festival of Remembrance,  to name a few. These events are on top of those attended by our two Lord Lieutenant Cadets for the 2016 term in Belfast and County Armagh.  The Sea Cadets have provided a uniformed presence in many places in Northern Ireland throughout 2016 and will continue to build on this in 2017.

(Above left: Royal Marines Cadets onboard HMS Caroline; above right: Sea Cadets at the Belfast Festival of Remembrance) 

Pictured at the top: cadets competing in their K2 Marathon event at London 2016.