Cadet Week

Overview:

Each summer, usually around the start of the school summer holidays, Benfleet Yacht Club run a sail training course, held over a 5 day period, for our Cadet members between the ages 8 to 17 years - "see bullet point 3" below for further details on age limits.

The training programme follows the RYA Youth Training Scheme at all levels.

All of the training team are RYA qualified Dinghy Instructors, Senior Instructors and Assistant Instructors, with the majority being members of Benfleet Yacht Club.

Lunch and snacks throughout each day are provided. A great opportunity for our younger members to learn to sail, and great fun too.

Cadet Sail Training Week 2026

Wednesday 29th July to Sunday 2nd August (both inclusive)

Booking process (Expression of Interest) will be open from 1st March 2026

However, all participants must be a Cadet Member prior to registerng your interest. Therefore, please submit any membership application prior to this time.

PLEASE READ "The small print" - terms & conditions for enrolling onto Cadet Week:

1. Places are limited to 45 students, due to Instructor resources, boat availability and on-shore facilities etc.
   
2. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
   
3. Students must be, as a minimum, turning 8 years old in the year Cadet Week is being held. Maximum age is 17 years old.
   
4. In order to comply with Insurance and Leisure Activity requirements, all Cadet Week participants must be enrolled as a "Cadet Member".
   
5. New / first time students must join and be accepted as Cadet Members "prior" to registering their expression of interest for Cadet Week.
   
6. Allocation of "Club Boats" will be prioritised to new 'first-time' Cadet Week participants. After that, any remaining club boats will be allocated based on level and ability.
   
7. Any "Own Boats" must be suitable for the course level applied for, in good order and adequately insured. BYC reserves the right to refuse use of an "own boat" if considered unsuitable.
   
8. To assist with the smooth running of the Cadet Week event, support from at least one Parent / Grandparent / Guardian is required: with minimum commitment to at least 1 weekday plus 1 weekend day per applicant. Jobs will be allocated prior to Cadet Week, by the Administration Team, and may be on or off the water subject to need.
   
9. Click here for to download a copy of the BYC membership application form.
   
10. No exceptions to these rules will be made under any circumstances.