Eight Sea Cadets from TS BROADSWORD,Dundonald Sea Cadets East Belfast, will be taking the lead when they join other Sea Cadets from across the UK and beyond to lead HM The Queen’s Jubilee barge,Gloriana, down the Thames on June 3 in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee.
Cadets are training hard in preparation as they will be the focal point in a huge procession of over 1,000 vessels as they crowd the Thames to honour the Queen’s jubilee as part of a huge Thames pageant, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since 1717.
Cadets aged 12-18 are part of a 55 strong team of Sea Cadet boats from all over the country, each one carrying a flag to represent a commonwealth nation, sailing in a diamond formation on an 11km route from Wandsworth to Greenwich.
The boats, Trinity 500’s, were specially designed for Sea Cadets last year by Olympic dinghy medallist Jo Richards and will be fitted with an outboard motor supplied by Suzuki GB.
Captain Sea Cadets, Capt Mark Windsor RN said, “This is a great honour for us, not least as HM The Queen is our Patron, but it also offers our cadets an incredible opportunity to take part in a once in a lifetime event, to be part of history” .’
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant (SCC) Hector Wanliss RNR, said, “Eight Sea Cadets from Dundonald Unit have been selected to participate, making up two boat crews. They were chosen on merit, based on seamanships skills and boating qualifications and have worked hard at preparing for the event, including a weekend pulling (rowing) in Trinity 500s on the River Bann in Coleraine. Although representing Sea Cadets in Northern Ireland, they will bear the flags of Commonwealth nations Grenada and Guyana. I am proud of our young people set to participate in this once in a lifetime experience. This is indeed a great honour for TS BROADSWORD!”
