REGISTRATION AVAILABLE
8th to 22nd JUNE
Registration is now open for Cadet Week 2025. Spaces are not allocated based on when you register (within the registration window)! Therefore, before registering, please carefully read through all the information below, review the registration guide, and then complete the form carefully. Mistakes are hard to correct and take time. It may be helpful to have this email and the registration guide open when you enter your details.
Cadet Week starts on Tuesday, August 5th, and ends on Sunday, August 10th. Cadets must attend on Tuesday, August 5th; otherwise, they will not be permitted to participate in the rest of the week. We will have registration, essential briefings, boat checks, and fun and games on Tuesday.
If this is your first Cadet Week, our guide to Cadet Week is worth a read.
Booking for cadet week
- You can only book a place for your own cadet(s).
- The cost for the week is £150 per cadet, the same as last year.
- This includes all the usual Cadet Week benefits, but if you want an exclusive Cadet Week Hoodie or a ticket to Madison Heights, you will have to order these separately; this is done on a separate Cadet Week Extra Registration which will open around the 1st July, you will be notified when this goes live. Once the options for Extras during cadet week are available, you will be able to access this page by clicking on the link. The deadline for all extras is expected to be the 14th of July.
- Registration is open until midnight on June 22, 2025.
- When you enter has no bearing on whether your cadet gets a place, so there is no point in rushing to enter early. Therefore, please take your time to ensure the forms are filled in correctly, as errors create more work for the volunteers who are organising this event in their own time!
- If you do make a mistake or want to change your form, you cannot edit your registration yourself, nor should you submit a new registration (which creates considerable work). Instead, email cadet-events@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk. with the change required.
- Cadets will need to be members of the club in their own right before the event begins. Please apply for membership immediately if your cadet is not already a member, so there is time to process it.
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You must pay before registration closes, or you will not be offered a place. Please note that payment does not guarantee you a space, but is required before one can be allocated.
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Full details of the application process and criteria can be found here.
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Please be aware that there will be over 120 cadets. Therefore, firstly, seek answers to questions by reading all the advice correctly. If you are still unsure, try the Cadet Parents WhatsApp group. If you still have issues, please email cadet events stating the specific problem you are experiencing.
Adults and volunteers
- Cadet week is not a commercial summer camp with paid staff to look after your children! To make Cadet Week a success, we rely on parent volunteers to help out. If you aren't volunteering, then other people are effectively looking after your children for free.
- If you can volunteer, please do so - it is a hugely rewarding experience. You will be asked on the form for your preferred role(s), and about any relevant qualifications you have.
- Parents with children of primary school age have to be on site at all times - so as you are here anyway, the expectation is you will help unless you have exceptional circumstances?
- All adults who volunteer will get free or discounted food for the week - see below.
- All adults and children over eight years old on site for cadet week must be full or temporary members of the club: this is a club rule. If you wish to apply for temporary membership for the week for one or more visitors, please do so on the Cadet Week Extra page, which will go live in the next couple of weeks.
Food and activities
Groups and boats
Subject to demand and availability of instructors and resources, we aim to run some or all of the following groups:
Lake training groups:
- Sprites: Complete beginners, no experience required, and minimum age school year 3. The group aims to introduce the cadets to sailing in a safe controlled manner. Cadets do not need their own boats, as we will be using the club's training Optimists. However, owning their own boat will increase their chances of securing a place.
- Jolly Sailors: Cadets with some experience who have completed a year’s sailing. The group will aim to build on the experience from last year and aim to get their RYA Level 1 certificate. Although cadets do not need their own boat for this group, they will progress a lot quicker if they have one.
- Lilt: Cadets who have completed their RYA Level 1 and are building to join one of the river training groups. The group will aim to build on their experience, start completing the skills required for their RYA Level 2 and get them to a position where they are confident to join one of the river training groups. A cadet doesn't have to have their own boat to join this group, but as the club does not have any Optimists that can go on the river, it is recommended that cadets in this group have their own boat, as progression will be restricted without one.
River training groups:
- Oppie Over the Wall: Instruction for Optimist sailors who were in Lilt last year or have equivalent experience. As the training is taking place on the river you must have your own boat to be part of this group. The group will be working to achieve their RYA Level 2 badge.
- Oppie Tango: Instruction for Optimist sailors. As the training is taking place on the river you must have your own boat to be part of this group. The group will be working to achieve their RYA Level 3 badge. Sailors wanting to join this group should have as a minimum their RYA Level 2 and have completed one season sailing Optimists on the river.
- Topper/Tera in the Hole: suitable for cadets that have achieved RYA Level 1. Cadets will be working towards their Level 2 Badge. Ideally cadets will have their own boat, but a limited number of club boats may be available for hire - please request this on the form.
- Topper/Tera Tango suitable for cadets that have achieved RYA Level 2. Cadets will be working towards their Level 3 Badge. Cadets must have their own boat to take part in this group.
- Seamanship: Cadets will be working towards RYA level 4 seamanship or day sailing (depending on demand and instructor availability). They must already have level 3, and extensive sailing experience. Training will be in club supplied Quest dinghies.
Racing groups:
- MG groups: A week long racing series. Race coaching will be available on the water, but this is a group for experienced racers only who have already had coaching or racing experience in the boat they are sailing in and RYA level 3. Cadets should ideally have their own boats but a limited number of club boats may be available to hire.
We will allocate your cadet to the correct group based on the boat they wish to sail, their qualifications and previous experience - you do not need to indicate a preference. The exceptions are:
- Cadets who have not participated in a training event at BSC: Please indicate your sailing experience and previous qualifications in the designated space on the form, so we can determine the best placement for you.
- Seamanship: If your cadet wishes to participate in the seamanship group, then you should select this on the form. You should also include a backup plan and boat to sail in the 'other information' box in case this group does not run, or we deem your cadet to be unsuitable.
- MG groups: If your cadet wishes to sail in an MG group, then they must select this on the form. Note that cadets with Fevas, Lasers, 420s or other boats (RS600, Laser 2000, etc) can only race in the MG group - there are no training groups for them at cadet week.
The management team reserves the right to determine which group a cadet is assigned to. Cadets who are not capable of keeping up with the rest of the racing fleet and may hold up the racing will be placed in the training groups. Cadets without sufficient experience and qualifications will not be included in the seamanship group.
TIMETABLE
Tuesday - Registration 11:30, Boat Checks, Lake Games
Main Briefing 9:00 each day from Wednesday
Wednesday - High Tide 11;24, Evening Madison Heights
Thursday - High Tide 12:20, Evening Talent Show
Friday - High Tide 13:06, Evening Film Night
Saturday - High Tide 13:48, Evening Curry, Ceilidh / Disco
Sunday - High Tide 14:28, Evening, DIY Dinner (as Tuesday)
BOATS
Most groups require you to have your own boat - see the specifics for each group listed above.
A limited number of club boats will be available for hire; please request this on the form in the designated section. It is not possible to book a club boat for cadet week through the club's boatbooker system, or by emailing the cadet skipper.
If a club boat is unavailable, then please indicate in the 'other information' which boat you own that you could use as an alternative.
What happens next
This page explains what will happen next and the criteria that will be used if any groups are oversubscribed.
You must pay before registration closes, or you will not be offered a place. Please note that payment does not guarantee a space, but is required before one can be offered. If no place is available, your fee will be refunded.
Cadet Week Extras will open around July 1st and close on July 14th; you will be notified when this feature becomes available. Once the options for Extras during cadet week are available, you will be able to access this page by clicking on the link.
Please pay by bank transfer to the club bank account quoting your billing group reference (on your invoice) AND the word Cadet (eg H092cadet, A002cadet etc).
Club Bank details can be found on the invoice you receive on registration.
Registration for this event closes at midnight on June 22nd.
For updates on cadet week and other cadet activities, join the WhatsApp or Facebook groups.
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