CADETS from Merseyside Police have taken part in a two-week voyage from Liverpool to Scotland via a tall ship regatta.

Eight cadets were part of 84 youngsters aged between 16 and 30 who took part in the Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST) Apprentice Ship Cup Irish Sea tall ship regatta which ran between Monday, July 1 and Saturday, July 13 and was split into two week-long legs.

MAST is a charity that helps young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop key life skills through the unique and challenging experience of crewing tall ships.

Five cadets left Liverpool on a very windy July 1 aboard the Brian Boru and headed for Bangor, Douglas and eventually completed their leg at Whitehaven on July 6.

They then changed crew and headed back to Liverpool with two cadets heading straight to North Wales to complete their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training.

On the same day three more cadets headed from Liverpool to Whitehaven with a group of other trainees to join their crews.

Two cadets joined tall ship Adventure Wales and after the standard initial training headed for Bangor, Ardglass, Port Erin, Douglas, Conwy and then back to Liverpool.

Citizens in policing lead, inspector Tom Welch, said: "This was such a fantastic experience for all of our Cadets and we're all grateful to MAST for providing such an incredible opportunity, which develops so many life skills.

"Here's what they have to say about it...

“The most memorable experience on board the ship was on the first day sailing when we saw dolphins going straight alongside the ship so we could film them. I would definitely recommend it and I would also definitely do it again.

“One of the most memorable experiences was Monday when we first set sail. It was extremely rough and everyone was sliding everywhere. I had to sit in the back and hold on tightly as you could see every wave coming to you. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, you don’t have to like sailing or know how to do it.

“My most memorable experience was creating memories with new people that you meet on the ship I enjoyed this because it was something new and it was an opportunity that doesn’t come round often. I would recommend this trip because you can learn new things that will help you later in life.

“I can't recommend this opportunity enough, there weren't a lot of bad bits, but when there were all of the crew worked through it together and the rest more than made up for it. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

The two week adventure culminated in a presentation evening at the Museum of Liverpool on July 13 where some of the young people received awards in recognition of their contribution, including the Top Watch Award, The Captains Apprentice Award and Top Team Award for each ship.

Cadets Maisie Brown and Adam Slocombe were recipients of the overall Top Watch Award on their respective ships.