Able Cadets Finlay Ross (left) and Graham Pollock pictured on the Main Deck at TS Briton. Competing against other Sea Cadets from all over the UK, Finlay won a Cup, coming first in one of the Laser Races and Graham gained 3rd place in the Open Topper Class.

JUST back from a successful outing to the National Sea Cadet Sailing Regatta at Port Edgar, South Queensferry, are Inverness-based sea cadets Finlay Ross and Graham Pollock. It’s been a busy time for the Inverness Sea Cadet unit, who meet at their headquarters, T.S. Briton in Kessock Road, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings - for 10-12 year olds and 12-18 year olds respectively - as well as Sunday afternoons.

Last month a party of cadets visited the Edinburgh Tattoo. And next month they will be assisting at the King George V Fund for Sailors concert at Eden Court.

As this is Jubilee Year the event is to be attended by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and the cadets hope that they will get the opportunity to meet her backstage.

The Sea Cadet company currently has 27 members in its Junior and Senior Sections - six of them girls - and around two thirds of them come from Merkinch, showing that the sea-going traditions of the area are still going strong. Though the Sea Cadets are recognised by the Royal Navy, Commanding Officer Lt David Beal stresses that they are a charity and not a pre-Navy training organisation.

The unit has 15 vessels, ranging from a 35ft motor cruiser to small dinghies including speed boats and a large inflatable. There are nine staff to show the youngsters the ropes in all aspects of seamanship.

The unit first set up in 1942 at the Citadel and moved to their present location in 1961.