It is a bright and breezy July Monday morning in a summer already breaking sunshine and temperature records as the young participants start arriving for what promises to be a memorable week on – and inevitably in – the water.  With mums, dads and various other family taxi drivers having dropped off their charges, the newbie cadets, looking cool in their cadet week t-shirts and hats courtesy of quartermaster Chris, are herded out of the clubhouse for a welcome chat from Marcus and some ice-breaking games led by Sam and their team of volunteers.  Dave has a probably ill-advised go at the internet favourite broomstick challenge until something inevitably gives way; you had to be there.   Marcus, Sam and the rest of the team quickly win the admiration and confidence of the twenty-or-so 8- to 15-year-olds taking part in the week, setting the scene for the days ahead.

Cadet Week 2026 represents the reinvigoration of a long-standing club tradition to encourage youngsters onto the water in a challenging, rewarding and – most importantly - safe setting, hopefully sowing the seeds for a lifelong interest in sailing and the range of other watersports on offer.  Many weeks of planning has resulted in a detailed timetable that is nevertheless flexible enough to accommodate the vagaries of a Scottish summer.  Ah, yes, the weather; as it will prove, alongside sound planning and preparation, organisers’ quick-thinking credentials will soon be put to the test…

As well as helping the cadets to get to know each other, Day One includes initial classroom sailing theory just to highlight some of the basics, and almost before they know it the cadets are afloat and getting to grips with the club’s Tera dinghies, recently refurbished, fettled and finessed by bosun Scott and his helpers, with a fair few trips to friend-of-the-Club Davey’s chandlery for a last few bits and pieces.  The cadets do splendidly, reminding all just how quickly; (a) youngsters pick up stuff, and (b) move about a boat, while their seniors grapple with aching backs and dodgy knees (you know who you are).  Soon, however, the breeze stiffens, necessitating a return to shore and the classroom for a wash-up on the day’s activities.  So ends a day of challenge and achievement for all, not least the gallant galley crew who have provided a constant stream of sustenance and refreshment, a role they will continue to fulfil superbly for the rest of the week.

It’s Day Two, and the volunteer instructors put on their thinking caps as the weather seems likely to disrupt the planned sailing.  So it proves, and soon the cadets are fully engaged in a range of other activities around the pier.  Sam’s combined beach rescue/first aid stand proves to be a particular favourite, with gangs of cadets charging down the beach and leaping fearlessly into the choppy river to retrieve the simulated casualty, bearing a striking resemblance to a rugby ball.  Once ashore, the patient is subjected to some enthusiastic CPR and duly makes an instant and full recovery. It isn’t exactly Baywatch, but just as much fun.  Elsewhere, cadets are negotiating a string of tethered paddleboards and trying out the club’s skur mini skiff. Overall, it is fair to say that the weather hasn’t in the slightest stopped play, and all retire suitably wet, weary and full of tales.

The weather gods continue to exert their influence as the week progresses, with Wednesday subject to some judicious rejigging of sailing and much-anticipated raft-building serials.  The latter proves to be as fun-filled and challenging as expected, and once Dai has set out the shipwreck/desert island/shark-infested strait scenario and (literally) shown cadets the ropes it’s all hands on deck.  With much creativity and a refreshingly avant garde approach to clove hitches, square lashings and single-handed bowlines, two teams of cadets have swiftly created rafts dramatically different in concept and execution, and in due course (there is an opportunity to do a bit more sailing in the meantime) the cadets are aboard their creaking creations and striking out for shore. Or at least some of them are, as one of the rafts is caught by a rapidly rising tide and is soon on a bearing for Newburgh, Perth and beyond.  Surrounded by a flotilla of support vessels, they are carefully towed back to the start to have a second go and are soon safely back on ‘the mainland’.

By Thursday, the cadets have become noticeably more confident on and around the water, with the excitement of a swift trip down to Broughty Ferry courtesy of the club’s safety boats to start the day, followed by ice cream, a visit to the lifeboat station, an al fresco picnic lunch and fun and games on Castle Green.  Suitably fed, watered and exercised it’s all aboard the RIBs for a wind-in-the-hair dash back to Wormit, with just a day to go.  Friday provides yet more excitement, with a welcome blue-light visit by HM Coastguard, the St Andrews University Olympic coastal scullers – the cadets enjoying a chance for some slidey-seat rowing to contrast with the club’s own skiffs and skur, and the competitive challenge of the regatta, conclusion of a week packed with variety and fun.  There remains only the presentation by two of the Olympic scullers to all the cadets of certificates and medals for successfully completing the week, as well as recognising those individual cadets who have improved the most in both age groups (8-11 and 12-15). Ending the week on a high, a number of delighted recipients are presented with special certificates, including for being the Most Helpful, the Most Accident-Prone, the one who Made us Smile the Most and the Kindest Teammate. A hearty BBQ with families and friends expertly produced by Nick, one of our ‘cadet Dad’ members rounds off a fabulous week for the club.

As the dust settles and the wetsuits quietly drip-dry on their racks, it is time to reflect on how it’s all gone and, with the votes in it is fair to say that the overwhelming consensus is that this has been an outstandingly successful week.  The club has come together to provide a safe and fun-filled week of skills acquired, memories made and has perhaps ignited in the cadets a spark of lifelong passion for sailing or simply messing about on the water.  Grateful thanks are owed to all who contributed to the week, whether planning, instructing, volunteering, feeding, assisting with the multitude of activities – too many to list - that together go towards ensuring a successful event.  Needless to say, minds are already turning to Cadet Week 2027.  Watch this space…!