“I just loved it – there’s no way to describe it. It was the best week of my life and one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever had.”
“Seeing parts of the country I never had before and making new friends.”
TS Royalist carries square sails on two masts. This makes it a ‘brig’.
“I’ve been on three offshore voyages with Sea Cadets and it’s brilliant fun. You get to experience so much and gain qualifications. It’s given me so much independence. It’s best when you’re out at sea and the wind’s blowing so you can turn off the engines and put out the sails.”
As well as square sails, Royalist carries some fore-and-aft sails. Here at the front is the ‘jib’.
On your first voyage, you will be trained to climb the rigging up to this platform.
To set these sails requires teamwork. You will soon learn your ‘bracing station’ (your position on deck) and what you need to do.
TS Royalist has the most modern radar and chart plotting equipment, which you will learn about.
“I loved learning new skills and improving myself.”
Three healthy meals a day are cooked in this small galley.
This hatch leads down to the cadet mess where you and 23 other cadets (your new friends) will sleep and eat. The only thing missing is you!
The ship is steered by a wheel. Cadets take turns on the helm and learn to steer.
There are two anchors. Sometimes the ship will anchor overnight and you will be on watch.
“My favourite moment was sailing between England and France and getting to see new places all the time.” 10
“Seeing dolphins, meeting new people and jumping into the sea!”
The captain and staff eat here, in the Wardroom.
The engines drive the propellors. You will assist the engineer with daily checks.
The cadet bunks are three high – you will need to be a good climber to reach the top ones!
SEA-CADETS.ORG / SUMMER 2020
The keel is underwater. It helps to keep the ship stable and stops it from blowing over in the wind.
There are two propellors for when there is no wind.
SUMMER 2020 / SEA-CADETS.ORG
Illustration: Mark Watkinson
TS ROYALIST TURNS FIVE
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