Twenty-six Sea Cadets from across the UK will represent their country in this summer's Tall Ships Races aboard the sail training brig TS Royalist. With an average age of just 17, the crew will be among the youngest in the international fleet. The youngest cadet will celebrate their 15th birthday only days before joining the race.
The Tall Ships Races celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2026. This year also marks 60 years since Sea Cadets first entered the event in 1966, helping inspire the development of the charity's offshore training fleet.
Built in 2015 and based in Gosport, TS Royalist was designed specifically for youth sail training. The vessel carries up to 24 cadets and provides practical experience in seamanship, teamwork and leadership.
Ready to Race — TS Royalist, the Sea Cadets' flagship sail training brig, will carry one of the youngest crews in the fleet as the charity represents the UK in the 2026 Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sea Cadets
The fleet will visit Northern European ports including Harlingen, Antwerp and Stavanger, where large crowds are expected to welcome the competing ships.
Cadet Corporal Evan, from Maidenhead Royal Marines Cadets, said the experience extends well beyond sailing. "It's about leadership, teamwork and being part of something bigger than yourself. Everyone brings their own skills, but you have to come together as one crew." Reflecting on the challenges of sail training, he added, "You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Sea Cadets teaches you to stay calm, control your response and lead under pressure."
Alongside the Royalist crew, a further nine Sea Cadets will sail aboard the Portuguese tall ship Vera Cruz as part of an international crew, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the event.
Sea Cadets says the Tall Ships Races continue to provide young people with practical experience, resilience and confidence through life at sea while acting as ambassadors for the UK on the international stage.
