Local Youth Enjoys a Week at Sea

While many youths were biding their time in the final days of winter, Travis Luscombe of Ryley, AB was getting acquainted with life at sea. The 17 year old is a Sea Cadet with the 56 Nootka Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Holden, AB. He was chosen as 1 of 55 Sea Cadets from across Canada to spend a week on board one of two tall ships off the Pacific Coast during the middle of March when most kids were in school and getting excited about their spring break plans.

“It was amazing!” said Chief Petty Officer First Class Luscombe, “I had a blast, and learned a lot about life at sea! I have never been on a ship like this before and it was a great experience!”

Luscombe spent his time on board learning to perform the various duties of a crewman at sea, including performing watch duties on the port, starboard, bow and stern. He acted as helmsman, radio operator (Despite being a tall ship, regulations require it to have a radio on board for communications), galley assistant and learned how to handle lines and unfurl the sails, a task that required the full crew due to the size of the sails. He was required to act as standby crew in the event of an emergency, and he ate, slept and bonded with his 30 other crewmates while on board the Pacific Grace. Her sister ship, the Pacific Swift, carried the remaining Cadets.

“We weighed anchor at dusk, and the ships came alongside each other. In the morning we slipped from the other boat and set sail” Said Luscombe, “We sailed up the Coast of Vancouver Island around Salt Spring Island. We were even able to row ashore at the Southern Gulf Islands. Off the coast of Saanich we were able to swing off the boat and swim in the ocean. I had a great time!”

This is the second opportunity that Cadet Luscombe has been selected for during his time with Cadets. In October of 2017 he was selected to participate in a deployment on board a Canadian Navy Patrol Class Training Vessel, and opportunity that his fellow Cadet, Tim Hill, was selected for this past October.

The trip was made possible through a partnership with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Program and the Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS). Cadet Luscombe incurred no costs to participate in this opportunity, as it was funded by the Department of National Defense and the Navy League of Canada. The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets are part of the Canadian Cadet Organization, which includes the Sea, Army and Air Cadets. There is no enrolment fee or membership fees for Cadets, and Uniforms are provided ‘on loan’.