Unit Nº 483 of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets
Our affiliation with Portland Sea Cadets ~ TS Penn goes back many years. The Isle of Portland Unit was founded in 1956, the same year that the RNA Portland Branch was formed. The Unit took its name from Admiral Sir William Penn (1644 – 1718), an English Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, USA. His residence on Portland, Pennsylvania Castle, built between 1797 and 1800, used to be a major hotel on the island, has also been a private residence and is now a boutique mansion, hired out for exclusive functions and events. As well as the Portland SCC Unit, two commissioned RN vessels also bore the name Penn.
The Sea Cadets provide a nautical presence at our Annual Dinners and we reciprocate by mentoring them in the ceremonial skills of standard bearing. The Branch has provided a Diamond Community Trophy which is presented annually to the cadet who had contributed the most within the community during the year. To give the Sea Cadets a helping hand our shipmates are pleased to be able to donate to the unit on an occasional basis.
~~~~~ News from the Unit ~~~~~
Junior’s Weekend 2025
What a great weekend the Junior Cadets have just had 23-24 August! Saturday was a Mega Stand-Up Paddle Board session, followed by a visit to Fancy’s Farm feeding the very exciteable sheep and goats!, and then on to Chesil Beach. Once they had later set up camp at Seaview Farm Campsite in Chickerell, everyone headed in to town to get a chippy tea and have games on the beach, before heading back to the campsite for smores over a camp fire! Sunday morning was a nature trail before breakfast, followed by a great visit to the Nothe Fort – which everyone found really interesting! Then lunch in the Nothe Gardens, rounding off the weekend with huge ice creams from the Newton’s Cove ice cream shack! Great fun was certainly had by all!!
Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award Exped 2025
What a great 3 days the Units Duke of Edinburgh Award participants had out on the waters of Weymouth and Portland! Cadet Ronnie and Able Cadets Austin, Daniel, George and Lewis joined AC Kai and Leading Cadet Eve from Weymouth Unit to complete their Rowing Expedition for their Silver Award! Exploring the coastal military fortifications as their aim, Day 1 started on top of the Island at the Verne Citadel and then walking down over to the Sailing Academy to pick up their boats, to row across to the Pill Box in the Fleet, then on to Sandsfoot Castle before continuing on to moorings in Weymouth Harbour. Day 2 took them back towards Portland Harbour and then out across Weymouth Bay to Bowleaze Cove, before returning along the length of Weymouth Beach against the wind to finish in Weymouth Harbour before visiting The Nothe Fort. Day 3 took them back in to Portland Harbour, with a tie-up at Chequer’s Fort by the Eastern Entrance, before continuing around the Harbour and landing on the beach at Black Barge to visit Portland Castle for the successful completion of their Expedition. They worked incredibly well as a team, against some stiff winds which really tested them! They were just brilliant.
South West Area Sailing & Windsurfing Regatta 2025
And what a great weekend of Competition the Unit has just had with the South West Area Sea Cadets Sailing and Windsurfing Regattas held locally at Weymouth, 19-20 July. Able Cadet Austin won all of his races to lift the 4.8m Windsurfing category trophy! And Able Cadet Lewis had three 1st places in his races to scoop the Open Zest Dinghy sailing category! Great results for the pair of them!
South West Area Rowing & Power Boat Handling Regatta 2025
What a fantastic day. The Unit is so proud of the cadets. Junior girls came joint 4th. Our junior boys also came 4th & Open boys came joint 7th. With our powerboat handling team winning in some challenging conditions, – Well done all.
Armed Forces Day Parade 2025
Cadets and Staff proudly took part in Weymouth Armed Forces Day Parade this morning. Led by the South West Area Sea Cadets Massed Band, they joined Weymouth and Southampton Units for a short service of Remembrance, followed by a parade from the Cenotaph along the length of the Sea Front to finish at the Pavilion. On a very warm day, all the Cadets did incredibly well and looked so smart! Well done to all!
Somerset & Dorset District Rowing Regatta 2025
Cadets had a great time on 15 June, testing their skills on the water. The Juniors Team won their category in the Somerset and Dorset District Rowing Regatta! And the Powerboat Team took 1st place on the District Boat Handling Competition! Great effort all round! A big thank you to the staff that supported the events. And a huge thank you to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for allowing the District to hold the Competition at their facilities.
Somerset & Dorset District Sailing Regatta 2025
TS Penn’s Cadets competed in the Somerset and Dorset District Sailing Regatta held in strong winds at Cheddar Reservoir today. Able Cadet Lewis absolutely smashed it, taking 1st place in all 4 of his races to take 1st place in the RS Zest class. Cadet Imogen did battle in a RS Zest as well in her first ever Regatta, as did AC George and Cdt1 Oscar crewing a RS Quest for their first Regatta as a crew. All did incredibly well!
Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet 2025
Leading Cadet Katie attended Forde Abbey at Chard today, at the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Dorset, where HRH Princess Anne was meeting members of the Riding for the Disabled Association, and watching them do carriage driving on the lawns. A lovely day.
South West Area Drill 2025
Cdt 1st Kayden came a brilliant 11th place in the Individual Piping Competition. The Armed Guard Team came a fantastic 2nd place! And Leading Cadet Lily did amazingly well to come 2nd place as Armed Guard Commander! An awesome set of results – their hard work and effort in training really shone through in their performances! We are so proud of them all.
Prizegiving 2025
What a brilliant night was had at the Annual Prizegiving Evening! It was lovely to be able to recognise all the Cadet’s fantastic achievements over the past 12 months. The Unit was honoured to host Portland Town Mayor Cllr Sheila Miles, who inspected the Divisions and chatted to each of the Cadets, before presenting some of the Awards along with the Chairman of Portland Royal Naval Association Mr Alex ‘Dusty’ Miller, and Mrs Karen Miller also from Portland RNA. It was lovely to see so many family and friends share in the Cadet’s evening too.!!
District Drill Competition 2025
Well done Portland Sea Cadets. A performance to be proud of. Winners District Armed drill & best Drill Commander 2025. The Piping team also gave a fantastic performance for their first attempt at competition for many years; well done.