Sea Cadets is a Charity that gives young people an opportunity to develop real life skills through nautical
challenge and adventure. Rowing provides a platform for young people to engage with others and step outside their comfort zones, learning more about themselves and setting them on the path to reach their full potential.
Bournemouth Sea Cadets benefits from a Trinity 500 Rowing boat. To enable us to comply with the
relevant safety requirements applicable to taking persons afloat, and to enhance the use of our rowing
craft, a motor was required to power another Trinity 500 craft which would be configured as a power boat.
After a successful grant application to The Connaught Trust, the electric outboard motor has been purchased and already put to good use! Due to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers, our cadets, and the generosity of the Connaught Trust our cadets have had such a fantastic summer. Many thanks to all for all that you do.
The electric outboard has already been the catalyst for an enhanced Sea Cadets experience and use of our equipment in the following ways:
In the summer of 2023, we achieved 89 rowing hours. In 2024, that's increased to 150 and that improvement is solely thanks to the Connaught Trust's grant because it enabled meeting of our safety requirements.
The electric outboard allows the Trinity 500 boat to be used as a powerboat. That's enabled are cadets and volunteers to consolidate their learnings from RYA courses and achieve vital time afloat to keep their skills fresh.
Our rowing boats were used at the Southern Area Rowing Regatta where teams from across the Sea Cadets' Southern Area competed. Our equipment helped enable this competition to go ahead and for cadets to experience the joy of competing.
Competition success: Our girls team won the Wessex District Rowing Regatta this summer. The trophy, over 40 years old, had never been won by Bournemouth. The electric outboard enabled the vital training for the team, and thanks to their efforts on the day, we won!
What do the Cadets think?
"It is really fun to use and it has enabled a different experience; We normally row a Trinity 500, but now we're able to use it as a powerboat. Being electric, it is really easy to charge and we don't have the problems a fossil-fuel engine would have, like buying the fuel, safely transporting it and storing. Having this [electric outboard] means we're able to explore other parts of the River Stour on our boating evenings."
Cadet First Class Jack
"I like it, it is quiet and reliable. It is a good thing we have this and it's meant we can enhance the safety of those afloat. Being electric it much better for the environment compared to combustion engines."
Leading Cadet Lizzie
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