Five Tenby Sea Cadets and a member of staff, PO (SCC) Jon Blair, had an early start for their journey to Plymouth to join the unit's affiliated ship, HMS Monmouth, and spend time at sea. They teamed up with their counterparts from Swansea unit who are also affiliated to the ship.
On arriving in Plymouth, they were all transferred to the ship outside the breakwater by harbour boats to begin their passage to Cardiff.
Each cadet was assigned to a member of the crew, a 'sea daddy', for the trip and to work the same routine and duty, with one Swansea cadet being woken from his pit for the morning watch, 0400-0800! He got a special mention from the captain, Cdr. A. Long RN, over the ship's address system.
Passing Land's End during the silent hours, some had a good sleep before watching the ship's capability trails for the day as she made her way up the Bristol Channel. These included tasks with the helicopter, sea boat, fire and damage control, ship's close range defence systems being fired and watchkeeping duties.
VIPs were flown in from Cardiff airport and the cadets were able to watch the flight deck team working.
At the end of the passage, they joined the ship's crew at Harbour Stations for the ship's entry into Cardiff docks looking just like their adult counterparts.
The cadets were full of their adventures on the drive back from Cardiff and have been sharing their tales with the rest of the unit's cadets.
They are now waiting for their next chance to get on board in May when some cadets will join HMS Sutherland for a day at sea in the Haven and around the coast of Pembrokeshire.
The unit is now recruiting new cadets and with the summer boating season about to start, a busy time is forecast. There will be opportunities to get away on courses, summer camps and much more.
Contact the unit on (01834) 849641 on a Tuesday or Thursday evening.