News

As Christmas is a time for giving Portrush Sea Cadets decided to forego their own Secret Santa presents and donate gifts to Dr. Barnardos Young Carers.

They donated a magnificent total of 50 gifts which Rhonda and Helen from Dr. Barnardos graciously accepted. The ladies then stayed a short while for the cadets Christmas party and partook of a welcome cuppa and mince pie.

26/07/2013

Portrush Sea Cadets is delighted to announce that a £4.8million contact is being awarded to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Gondan S.A, and designers Acubens to build the Sea Cadets new 21st Century flagship which will take thousands of cadets on an offshore voyage.

The winning design is a 32m brig offering greater use of space, with better all-round sailing ability and performance. It will be faster and easier to handle than the current vessel (T.S. ROYALIST) and provides much improved accommodation, making her the perfect choice to continue the legacy of T.S. ROYALIST in providing young people with a truly amazing and quite unique offshore voyage aboard a tall ship.  

The new 32m brig design, has a pedigree drawing on large fast yachts, will have an independent, aerodynamic shaped keel, with separate rudder and skeg, and a canoe shaped hull of high tensile steel (ROYALIST is mild steel) with a reticulated structure and GRP deckhouse giving reduced weight and a lower centre of gravity.

A flagship voyage is the pinnacle of the Sea Cadet experience and one which the charity wants to ensure future generations of Sea Cadets can benefit from. T.S. ROYALIST launched in 1971 has taken over 30,000 cadets to sea in her lifetime.

The charity spent two years fundraising £4.8 million to build a new ship, so far achieving £3.85 million of that target. The new ship will be ready for the 2015 sailing season launching into action as the old ship is decommissioned during the previous sailing season. This means, there will be no pause in the sailing programme and cadets will not miss out on an opportunity to take part in an offshore voyage.

The charity worked hard to keep the build in the UK, conscious of the country’s maritime heritage. However innovation and cost were of equal value to the charity having spent much time securing the funds from many donors; corporate, individuals, trusts and foundations, and Sea Cadet units across the UK. The final design offers a great balance between innovation and value for money.

Martin Coles, MSSC CEO says: “Astilleros Gondan’s proposal delivers a technically advanced proposition with a great use of space and modern facilities providing a real step forward from T.S. ROYALIST in terms of overall design and sailing experience. Plus with 55% of equipment (like engines) sourced from the UK they have struck a good balance between home grown and cost-effectiveness.

We’re very excited to see the new build up and running as it will ensure that generations of Sea Cadets can harness their futures and steer a course that is right for them through the incredible confidence nautical adventure gives them.”

COME ON BOARD . . . . JOIN SEA CADETS PORTRUSH here

05/07/2013

A Change of Command parade was held Friday, 5. July 2013, to formally say goodbye to Captain Mark Windsor Royal Navy and welcome the new Captain Sea Cadets, Captain Johnathan Holloway Royal Navy.

Sea Cadets and volunteers from Kingston, Hornchurch & Upminster and Clacton lined the parade route while Herne Bay Sea Cadets band enterained guests.

Photograph: L to R 

There has always been a strong link between North Antrim and Scotland. At their closest several miles separate the most northerly part of Antrim from the Mull of Kintyre and this closeness has often led to political alliances.

The Skerries Islands to the North East of Portrush offer good shelter and anchorage to ships and it was here in the early 14^th century that the famous Scottish Pirate Tavish Dhu often came to anchor. It is said that he made the Skerries his main base in his ravages along the North Antrim coast.

In the year 1315 Edward Bruce  (brother of Robert Bruce King of Scotland) was engaged in a war against the English in Ireland and came over from Scotland to be crowned King of Ireland. He camped beside Coleraine, intending to besiege the town into surrender, but was attacked by the Earl of Ulster Richard de Burgh (Red Earl) and reduced to great straits. As a result of this prolonged siege, the besiegers were as near starvation as the besieged in the town.

The Red Earl sent to England for help and four Privateer Ships, loaded with provisions and other supplies, sailed around the Causeway headland with intent to sail up the River Bann to meet with the Earl in Coleraine. They were forced to take refuge from a storm and anchor inside the Skerries however they had not reckoned on meeting Black Tavish.

Tavish Dhu’s pirates swooped on these ships and captured them intact and triumphantly escorted their provisions to the army of Bruce.  Bruce however failed to hold his position in Ireland for long and was driven back to Scotland by the English.

Tradition has it that Tavish Dhu was brought back to the Skerries after his death and is buried there. It is also said that three bullock skins of silver are buried with him on the Skerries.

Introducing Portrush's historical pirate, Tavish Dhu, with a street parade, re-enactment, fun day, pirate treasure hunt and live music . . . . . . . ALL enjoyed by the cadets and adult volunteers of T.S. DUKE OF YORK, Portrush Sea Cadets

For more happy fun-filled photographs, go to NEWS  :  Picture Gallery  :  Events  :  Page 17>

sea-cadets.org/portrush/events-gallery.aspx

Saturday, 6th. July 2013

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh gave a Reception at St. James's Palace - Wednesday, 29th. May 2013, for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, at which The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent were present.