Fourteen cadets from 100 Admiral Mainguy Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Duncan had a once in a lifetime opportunity to sail in a Royal Canadian Navy frigate on Saturday, April 9, during a training weekend in Victoria.
The Duncan cadets joined more than 200 other sea cadets from around Vancouver Island and the 225 crew members of HMCS Ottawa for a day at sea. The crew and cadets put the ship through its paces at full speed, up to 30 knots, and heeling over 25-30 degrees during manoeuvres.
During the day, cadets spent time with sailors at 13 different activity stations learning the various functions of daily life and the rhythm of a Canadian warship including weapons, fire-fighting, navigation and command, operations, boarding and rescue.
Among them was the Cowichan Valley’s Rebecca Oliver.
“My favourite part of today was the simulated conflict in the operations room, not everyone gets to see that. The cadet program is full of experiences other people my age just don’t get to do; last year I went on an ORCA deployment and learned how to operate a naval ship doing many of the things I’ve seen sailors do today.”
On Sunday, all cadets were inspected by Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific during an Admiral’s Ceremonial Divisions parade. The parade included a massed band as well as several promotions and recognitions.