A group of sea cadets from Hartlepool are looking forward to the trip of a lifetime this summer.
Eight teenagers from the Hartlepool Sea Cadets will be travelling on one of the 40 incredible vessels during the Tall Ships Races.
Lilly Brandt, Olivia Fox, Oswald Roberts, Kirsty Hatherall, Matthew Gooding, James Lilly, Emma Fox and Leah Iles will be travelling either to or from Hartlepool during the prestigious event.
Three will be travelling from Den Helder in the Netherlands and five will then be aboard for the journey to Fredrikstad, Norway.
“It’s so nice for our cadets to be involved in something like the Tall Ships Races Hartlepool,” said commanding officer Jane Fox.
“We all remember what the event was like the last time it was here 13 years ago and it was so special, very well attended. Just imagine what it will be like for these young people to be sailing on one of the ships.
“As a group we never thought we would get as many as this go on the ships – it’s so exciting for them all.
“This is what they do with us, they prepare for life at sea. They engage in a lot training, learn about sea turns, sailing, knots, all kinds of things. Being involved in the Tall Ships Races means they can put the good skills they have learned to good use.”
During their time with the sea cadets the aim is to enjoy a voyage offshore before they leave. Many of them have been on board the TS Royalist or TS Jack Petchey; two ships heavily associated with the national youth charity.
There are 45 cadets ageing from ten to 18 at the Hartlepool branch and PO Fox and Sergeant Iles are now adult volunteers having been with the sea cadets since the age of ten.
And the excitement is now building towards July when the eight strong group of Tall Ships trainees will be part of the extravaganza.
All of them have taken part in their own fundraising to help pay for the special trip and some have had help from the Oman Bursary Scheme, the PFC Trust or their schools.
PO Fox said: “We have all fundraised together with some entertainment nights, like a quiz, and others have done other forms of fundraising. I have saved some of my wages from my work as a factory operative to help make it happen. I can’t wait.”
Oswald, 15, is from Manor Academy and will be sailing on the Wylde Swan along with school friend Matthew, 15, and Dyke House Academy’s James Lilley, 15.
Lilly, 15, has only sailed on a powerboat before and will be joined by Academy of Shotton Hall friend Olivia Fox, 15, who has already sailed from France to Ramsgate on the TS Jack Petchey.
And Kirsty, 14, is looking forward to finding out about life at sea when she gets on board The Swan having been helped by her school, St Hild’s.
The Morgenster, Roald Amundsen and Jolie Brise are three of the other ships that the sea cadets will be sailing on and those will be docked at Hartlepool Marina between July 6-9as part of one of the biggest unticketed events in the UK this year.
There will be a dazzling display of pyrotechnics, performance, and music during The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2024 on Friday, July 7followed by a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday, July 8.
The event will also see more than 50 live music and entertainment acts perform, with indie rock band Maximo Park headlining on the Friday and acclaimed reggae band The Wailers on the Saturday.
Caption: Ordinary Cadet Lilly Brandt, Able Cadet Olivia Fox, Cadet First Oswald Roberts, Cadet Kirsty Hatherall, Ordinary Cadet Matthew Gooding, Able Cadet James Lilly, PO Emma Fox, Sergeant Leah Iles and Commanding Officer PO Jane Fox. Picture: Tom Banks