The Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) recently played host to Sea Cadets from TS Woltemade on the 2018 Youth Day weekend and included them in the Youth Regatta.
Berths were made available on yachts Silver Girl and SV Storm as well as the Committee, rescue and buoy laying boats to provide the Sea Cadets an opportunity to get salt on their chests.
All the Sea Cadets were sail trained by SLt (Dr) David Walker, TS Woltemade sailing instructor and lecturer in Maritime Studies at CPUT. A few weeks prior they had participated in the annual MAC 24 Hour dingy race hosted by the Milnerton Aquatic Club.
The Sea Cadets were divided daily between the yachts, committee, rescue and buoy laying boats. Cadet Seaman Dillan Geldenhuys said “it was exciting to pass through the fleet as photographer took photographs of each yacht.” Cadet Able Seaman Rayton Morkel reflected “my first experience of waves was thrilling.”
Melvin Rautenbach, skipper of the yacht Silver Girl remarked that he would be “very happy to include the Sea Cadets as ship’s company in future.” The practical seamanship and sail training provided by TS Woltemade and SLt David Walker was put to the test and the youth did themselves proud.
On Sunday there were unfortunately no sea berths for some Sea Cadets. They used the time and opportunity to visit the Company Gardens, South African Natural History, Jewish and Holocaust Museums. Cadet Petty Officer Sithemiso Dayi, from Masiphulele, reported that “the opportunity opened his eyes to aspects of South African history.” Furthermore he “appreciated the quality of the museums visited.”
After each days racing the Sea Cadets were included in the evening program and victualed in with the other sailors. This provided them with an opportunity to interact with the RCYC youth development sailing academy sailors and adults who had hosted them.
The Sea Cadets attended the weekend in uniform and during the prize giving all came to attention during the singing of the National Anthem.
