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Comox sea cadet spends summer aboard iconic tall ship

The sea cadet program offers many exciting and fulfilling experiences and opportunities to youth ages 12-18 across Canada, but perhaps nothing so historic and iconic as a deployment on a tall ship.
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The sea cadet program offers many exciting and fulfilling experiences and opportunities to youth ages 12-18 across Canada, but perhaps nothing so historic and iconic as a deployment on a tall ship.

Recently, Petty Officer First Class Kathleen Lynxleg (a local sea cadet from Comox’s Port Augusta Corps) was fortunate enough to receive such a posting, and spent three weeks (half of it at sea) aboard the Gulden Leeuw, one of the world’s largest three-mast Schooners. Built in the Netherlands in 1937, the Gulden Leeuw is nearly 180 feet long and manned by a permanent crew, to teach and supervise the trainees. Trainees act as crew, and take daily duty shifts at helm, setting and trimming sails, charting, navigating, making log entries, and acting as lookout. (Minke and humpback whale sightings are common.)

Starting at Port Pictou, N.S., the Gulden Leeuw began with a five-day sail to Miramichi, N.B., stopping off on the way for a beach day on Prince Edward Island. After several days in port sight-seeing they continued into the Saint Lawrence River (spotting beluga whales on the way) to Baie-Comeau Quebec, and then on to Quebec City.

PO1 Lynxleg flew home from Quebec City, having made memories to last a lifetime. This adventure (with a cost of nearly $4,000 to the general public) was at no cost to the cadet, as all cadet activities are funded by a combination of government funding and local fundraising.

Anyone interested in the multitude of experiences available is invited to join the Cadets on their Parade Nights, every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. at HMCS Quadra on Goose Spit, or call 250-751-9626.