Air Cadets gain their Water Wings!
Air Cadets gain their Water Wings!
Air Cadets from 861 (Wideopen) Squadron have taken part in an exhilarating RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club.
Cadets took the opportunity to learn to drive a range of powerboats under the instruction of a qualified RYA Powerboat Instructor. It was an extremely busy and fast paced weekend resulting in the cadets achieving their National Powerboat Certificate, the boating equivalent of a driving license! This qualification allows them to drive any powerboat any where in the world up to 10 meters in length.
Two cadets and a member of staff took part in the course. They had no experience of powerboating so there was a very steep learning curve to become a competent powerboat skipper.
The cadets learnt how to prepare a boat, launch and recover boats, boat handling including high and low speed maneuvers, actions on emergency, crew communications, team work and navigation but most importantly how to stay safe on the water while having lots of fun.
Cadet Corporal Wesley Ramsay, 16, said “ This is the best activity I have ever took part in, not only in cadets but ever! Learning to drive all those different powerboats showed us how important it is to concentrate on an activity and helped to develop lots of new skills”. Cadet Curtis Nicholson, 15, had that much fun he could not believe how fast time went by saying “How can it be 5 o’clock? I thought it was only lunch time! This course has been brilliant fun!” Civilian Instructor Simon Gaffney, 25, enjoyed the course so much he is going to progress onto the RYA Intermediate Powerboat Course this summer.
After lunch on day two it was almost time for the course assessments. The three students were given time to drive the powerboats on their own to hone their skills and learn from each other, while remaining under remote supervision of the instructor, Pilot Officer Adam Watson, in another boat. They used the full 1000 acre lake to achieve speeds of 30+mph and attempt every maneuver taught over the weekend.
861 (Wideopen) Squadron Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant James Elliott, said “I am really pleased that we were able to offer the cadets such a fantastic activity. I would like to extend my thanks to Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities and range of powerboats and to Pilot Officer Watson for delivering the course so effectively”.
Course Instructor, Pilot Officer Adam Watson of 861 (Wideopen) Squadron commented “This kind of activity is a brilliant example of what we can achieve with some determination, organisation and qualified instructors. Cadets have learned valuable skills they can use for the rest of their life; the course helped to improve their confidence and taught the importance of staying safe while having fun. It was obvious from the expression on their faces that the students really enjoyed every second of the course.”
The Air Cadets is open to all young people aged 13-17 years. There are 35 Squadrons in Durham/Northumberland Wing and the chances are there is a unit near you! Why not visit www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets to find out what Air Cadets are getting up to where you live? 861 (Wideopen) Squadron is recruiting now – we are located behind Woodlands Hall in Wideopen and meet every Monday and Thursday, 7-9.30pm.
