A 15-YEAR-OLD sea cadet has helped a sailing team win an international competition and claim a trophy for the first time in more than 30 years.

Jasmin Wilkinson, from Accrington was one of the crew on the final leg of the Tall Ships Race 2017 from Klaipeda in Poland to Szczecin in Lithuania.

The crew of the TS Royalist picked up the ‘Cape Horne Trophy’ for being first in class overall for the whole series of races.

The trophy had not been won by a UK ship for 31 years, and Miss Wilkinson was delighted to be part of the 24 person team to bring the prize home.

She said: “We were awarded with crew parties, parades and an award ceremony.

“If anyone gets an opportunity like this at any point in their lives, I’d say take it and enjoy it as I found it amazing and would like to thank the sea cadets for giving me this opportunity.”

The crew came first in its ship class and second overall in race one, second in class and second overall in race two and finally first in class and first overall in race three.

Ordinary Cadet Miss Wilkinson has been a member of Accrington and District Sea Cadets for the past three years.

The group encourages all cadets to spend a week onboard TS Royalist, and in the past two years they have been able to send 15 cadets away to experience life on board a tall ship.

Daniel Doody, 1st lieutenant at the Accrington group, said: “Sea Cadets is all about teamwork and pushing yourself to achieve things you would not ordinarily do.

“This experience is a prime exmaple and TS Royalist offers this in abundance.

“We are extremely proud and pleased one of our cadets has been able to be part of this historic win.”

On board the TS Royalist cadets had to face nautical challenges including unfurling 536 square metres of sail from two masts and plotting navigation routes through different seas.

The Accrington and District group is part of the national Sea Cadets charity, which works with around 14,000 young people from throughout the UK age between 10 and 18.

The Accrington and District unit is open Monday and Friday from 7pm to 9.30pm and meets at Enfield Wharf in Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors.

People interested can visit www.sea-cadets.org.Accrington.