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 November 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.
When available, 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 ~~~~~
South West Area Rowing & Power Boat Handling Competition 2026
The South West Area Sea Cadet Rowing & Boat Handling Regatta was held over the weekend 3rd – 5th July, at Tata Steel Sailing Club near Port Talbot in strong winds, results as follows:
Our Open Boys Rowing Team came 6th place, which was a great effort (especially as they had a broken oar as a trophy!)
Our Junior Girls Rowing Team took the Bronze Medals with 3rd place – simply amazing!
When combined with Weymouth Unit Junior Boys Rowing Team, our District Team (Somerset & Dorset) overall came 5th place in the Rowing Regatta.
There was an unexpected fun staff race, so PO Jordan Walbridge and PPOs Oakley Harvell and Katie Sadler stepped up to form a crew with Bridgwater Unit staff and Lt Sara Cornick from Weymouth on the Helm. They set off from the start line in 3rd position, but powered through in the final stages of the race to win it! Fabulous!
And our Powerboat Handling Team came an absolutely fantastic 2nd place! They will receive their Silver Medals in a couple of weeks time, as that Competition had still been on-going when we had set off home later in the evening.
Somerset & Dorset District Rowing & Sailing Regatta 2026
What a fabulous day was had at the District Rowing and Sailing Regatta, held Saturday 13th June in sunny Weymouth!
In the Rowing, the Junior Boys Team put up a valiant effort to come Runners Up, and the Junior Girls and Open Boys Teams both won! In the Sailing, LCdt’s Daniel and George battled hard in the Open Quest Class, Cdt 1st Imogen and Cdt Jade won the Junior Quest Class, Cdt Miles came 5th place in the RS Zest Class with LCdt Lewis winning the Zest Class! LCdt Austin won the 5.8m Windsurfing category. The fantastic efforts of all the Cadets who participated meant that Portland Unit won the Overall Regatta Winners trophy! A great result reflecting all the training undertaken!
National Volunteers Week – Cadets celebrate Volunteers
It was with great honour and pleasure that on the evening of Thursday 4 June we at Portland Unit celebrated a special person, Lt (SCC) Rachel Harris RNR, Our Commanding Officer.
From all the cadets, Staff and Committee as well as visiting staff from other local units, we thank you for everything you do for us week in and week out. We are so lucky to have you as our Leader, Friend and our Commanding Officer.
The evening was finished off with 3 cheers for an amazing lady.
Somerset & Dorset District Boat Handling Competition 2026
Huge Congratulations to our Unit Powerboat Handling Team for winning today’s Somerset and Dorset District Competition held at Portland! Great boat driving 
skills from Leading Cadet Daniel and brilliant crewing by Cadets Alexander and Jasmine, along with great team work, saw them competently achieve all on-water skills tasks in a RIB within the time limit, to lift the trophy for 1st place! Well Done all!
A big thank you goes to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for kindly allowing us to use their facilities as the venue for the Competition.
Didn’t they do well in 2026
The Unit Commanding Officer, Lt (SCC) Rachel Harris RNR, and Unit Chairperson Mrs Josie Butcher attended the South West Area Sea Cadets Conference today, held on Weston-Super-Mare Grand Pier.WWI Battlefields Tour 2026
What a great and moving 1st day everyone had on our World War 1 Battlefields Tour! Cadets from Portland, Weymouth and Yeovil Sea Cadet Units met at 0430hrs in the rain in the pitch black at the Swannery Car Park, and boarded our luxury brand new coach to Dover. A lumpy sea crossing to Calais then took us to Langemark German Cemetery with driving snow adding to the solemnness of the location. On to our hotel, where after checking in we explored Ypres town and all had waffles! Then in to No.1 uniform for the daily evening Remembrance Ceremony at The Menin Gate. The Cadets looked so smart with Able Cadet Rob taking charge of the Squad of 47 Cadets and Adult Volunteers. Leading Cadet Lily, who initiated the trip, laid a Wreath on behalf of Sea Cadets, Able Cadet Lewis said the Exhortation and Able Cadet Austin said the Kohmia Epitaph. Then on to bed for a good night’s rest after a long but enjoyable and interesting day!
Cadet Awards 2026
What a fabulous night we had at our Annual Prizegiving Evening! It was really great to be able to recognise all our Cadet’s brilliant achievements and experiences over the past year. We were delighted to host Portland Town Mayor Cllr Charlie Flack, who inspected the Divisions and chatted to each of the Cadets, before presenting some of the Awards along with the Mayoress Maria Flack. As ever, we were very well supported by Portland Royal Naval Association, with the Chairman of the RNA Mr Alex ‘Dusty’ Miller, Mrs Karen Miller and Mr Pete Shoesmith also presenting some of the Awards. And it was so lovely to see so many family and friends share in the Cadet’s evening as well.
Remembrance Parade 2025
Cadets and Staff from TS Penn took part in the annual Remembrance Parade and Service on 9 Nov 2025, marching from the Drill Hall to the Cenotaph. Cadets Daniel, George and Lewis were privileged to carry Standards representing The Royal British Legion, Portland Town Council and of course Portland Sea Cadets.
Our Cadets looked so very smart on Parade and up at Portland Cenotaph – well done to all.
HMS Illustrious Liberty Boat Disaster Remembrance 2025
Able Cadets Daniel and Lewis took part in the HMS Illustrious Memorial Service held at the Commemoration Stone in Portland Marina. Lewis did a reading during the Service and Daniel piped ‘The Still’ and ‘Carry On’ to mark the period of silence. They were both a credit to the Sea Cadets and looked very smart.
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!