Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets throughout the year have many opportunities both on land and sea, as a Unit we own a small fleet of 2x Trinity Rowing Boats, and also a Powered Boat, but we often visit other Units and training centres to give our Cadets every experience of Sailing, Rowing and Life on the Water. Cadets train to become crew, leading other Cadets, and gaining Qualifications and Leadership skills.
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As part of the MSSC (Marine Society Sea Cadets) there is an Offshore Fleet consisting of a Tall Sail Ship, two motor cruisers, and fast small sailing vessels, as a Unit we have been lucky over the past couple of years to have Cadets go on one week Offshore Voyages.
TS Royalist is our National Tall Sail Ship, last year 8x Cadets, undertook Voyages onboard, and this year 7x Cadets will have the same opportunity, two weeks ago, our first cadet went offshore for a Weeks Yoyage, learning practical sailing skills, being part of the ships crew in sailing the ship. As a Unit, there is always a sense of excitement, and whilst Cadets are away at Sea, we all look forward to hearing their many stories, on their return, its such an amazing experience for them, and also inspires the other Cadets.
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TS Royalist refers to a specific sailing vessel used by the UK’s Sea Cadets.
- TS stands for Training Ship
- Royalist is the ship’s name
The current TS Royalist is a brig-rigged sailing ship operated by the Sea Cadet Corps. It’s mainly used to train young people (typically aged 12–18) in seamanship, teamwork, leadership, and life at sea.
Key facts:
- It’s a tall ship with two masts and square sails
- Sail training voyages usually last about a week
- Cadets actively take part in sailing (not just passengers)
- The current vessel entered service in 2015, replacing an older ship with the same name
There have actually been multiple ships named Royalist over time, but they all serve the same purpose: giving young cadets hands-on maritime experience. The Sea Cadets Corps, is one of the only organisations in the world to give youngsters this opportunity to sail a Tall Ship give lifelong experiences.
Daily life on board
Cadets are split into small watch groups (teams) and rotate duties throughout the day and night. A typical day might include:
Sailing the ship
- Steering the ship (helming) under supervision
- Handling ropes and sails (hoisting, trimming, and lowering)
- Learning navigation basics like charts and plotting positions
Mast climbing
- Climbing the rigging to work on sails high up the masts
- Building confidence and trust in safety procedures
Navigation & seamanship
- Using compasses, charts, and learning maritime rules
- Understanding weather, tides, and how they affect sailing
Ship duties
- Cleaning and maintaining the ship (everyone chips in)
- Helping in the galley (kitchen) or with general upkeep
Night watches
- Taking turns on watch overnight (yes, even at 2–4am)
- Keeping lookout, checking equipment, and steering
Teamwork & personal development
Because it’s run by the Sea Cadet Corps, there’s a strong focus on:
- Leadership and responsibility
- Communication and teamwork
- Confidence building (especially through challenges like climbing or night sailing)
Shore time
If the schedule allows, cadets may:
- Visit a port or coastal town
- Do short trips ashore or activities on land
End of voyage
By the end of the week, most cadets have:
- Learned the basics of sailing a tall ship
- Made close friendships
- Gained a lot of independence and confidence
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE!
TS Jamaica, Unit 235, Margate Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets take Junior Cadets from 9 Years Old, Sea Cadets from 12 Years Old, and Royal Marine Cadets from 13 Years Old, we meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1900 - 2100, for anyone wishing to join, simply pop along and visit the Unit, have a look around, you will be welcomed.
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