Tall Ships victory in Baltic for sea cadet
A TEENAGE sea cadet from Accrington and District unit was part of the victorious crew of the flagship TS Royalist that won the annual Tall Ships Race.
Ordinary Cadet Jasmine Wilkinson, 15, was part of a crew of 24 trainees racing from Klaipeda, Poland to Szczecin, Lithuania in the final leg of the Tall Ships Race 2017, in the Baltic Sea.
A first place and two second places over the three-race series was enough to land the crew the prestigious trophy for being first in class overall. The trophy had not been won by a UK ship for 31 years.
Accrington Sea Cadets encourages all cadets to spend a week onboard TS Royalist, and in the past two years have been able to send 15 cadets away to experience life on board a tall ship. The ship gives cadets unique challenges when onboard, with every crew member participating in nautical activities, from unfurling the 536 square meters of sail from her two masts to plotting navigation routes through UK seas.
OC Jasmine said it was an “amazing” experience. She said: “We were awarded with crew parties, parades and an award ceremony where we won three trophies for winner overall and in our class which rewarded us with a visit from the president of the city.
“If anyone gets an opportunity like this at any point in their lives I’d say take it and enjoy it to the fullest as I found it amazing and would like to thank the sea cadets for giving me this opportunity.”
PO (SCC) Daniel Doody, 1st Lieutenant, is delighted with her success. He said: “We are extremely proud and pleased one of our cadets has been able to be part of this historic win.”