Ontario Sea Cadet Sailing Team Announced

9:28 AM Fri 3 Jul 2009 GMT
Weeks of preparation, training and anticipation, capped with two demanding days of intensive instruction and racing, have paid off for the ten Royal Canadian Sea Cadets named to the Central Region Sailing Team. Their selection follows the Central Region Sea Cadets Regatta over the weekend (June 20-21) in Kingston Harbour, near the Royal Military College of Canada.

The selected cadets are members of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) spread across the province. They are:

1 Helm: Taylor Marsh RCSCC BRILLIANT North Bay

Mate: Josh Clarke RCSCC REPULSE Sarnia

2 Helm: Konrad Davy RCSCC ILLUSTRIOUS Brampton

Mate: Mary Clouston RCSCC ST. LAWRENCE Kingston

3 Helm: William Glatt RCSCC COURAGEOUS London

Mate: Devon MacDiarmid RCSCC STORMONT Cornwall

4 Helm: Paul Karigan RCSCC COURAGEOUS London

Mate: Thomas Flake RCSCC ADMIRAL MOUNTBATTEN Sudbury

5 Helm: Matthew White RCSCC MANITOULIN Manitoulin

Mate: Crestienne Beniot RCSCC MANITOULIN Manitoulin

Four alternates/standbys have also been selected: Samantha Lang, RCSCC STORMONT, Cornwall; Micheal Clark, RCSCC ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Sault Ste. Marie; Valerie Bernier, RCSCC CENTURION, Kanata and Ryan Blackstock, RCSCC ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Sault Ste. Marie.

The next challenge faces the team Aug. 23-28 when the cadets will return to Kingston representing Ontario in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets National Regatta.

The Central Region Regatta is the finale of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets' local sailing training for the year. The Regional Sail Department of HMCS ONTARIO conducts the competition in concert with The Navy League of Canada - Ontario Division, and Canadian Forces support through the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central) at CFB Borden.

Seamanship and sail training have been mainstays of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet program for more than 100 years. Through the sailing program sea cadets learn the skills they need to harness the winds, tides and currents. The program pays big dividends in the cadets' personal development, in terms of such life skills as teamwork, self-discipline, and self-confidence.

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by John Harris, C.D., A.B.