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Former cadet Nikki Henderson will be the youngest skipper in Clipper Race history when she sets sail this August.

The 23-year-old, who will lead a team in the 40,000-nautical-mile Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, spoke to Sea Cadets about the challenge ahead.

Life at sea runs in Nikki's family. Her family are keen sailors, while one of her uncles is in the Merchant Navy. Nikki herself even considered a career in the Royal Navy at one point. 

"I was involved with cadets for about a year," she said. "I enjoyed the fact that everyone was equal. Everyone is on a level playing field. Everyone gets to do everything.

"I enjoyed getting outdoors and seeing something different. It's so exciting to see a different side of life; when you're at school, it's so academic."

Born on 26 July 1993, Nikki will have just turned 24 when the race gets under way, taking the record of youngest skipper from recent Vendee Globe runner-up Alex Thomson, who won the 1997-98 Clipper Race, aged 26. 

"I have always enjoyed showing people that it doesn't matter what your background is, what your age is, what sex you are," said Nikki, of Guildford, Surrey. 

"I'm excited about leading by example and showing that you can go for it, and you can achieve it.

"It's exciting, and a big step in my career. I'm really looking forward to getting going." 

Speaking about what lies ahead, she admitted: "It's a big challenge. I'm young, so that may be an advantage for me, as I don't have a huge number of ties back home."

Of the 12 selected skippers, Nikki is one of two females, the other being Wendy Tuck, 52, from Australia, who also competed in the last edition of the Clipper Race. 

The 11-month challenge starts with a race across the Atlantic to South America, followed by the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa; across the Southern Ocean’s Roaring Forties to Western Australia; around to East Australia taking in the famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race en route; back into the Northern Hemisphere to Qingdao, China via Sanya; across the mighty North Pacific to West Coast USA; to New York via the famous Panama Canal; and then a final Atlantic crossing before arriving back to the UK in summer 2018.

Offshore bursary awards were given to seven cadets ahead of the Shipwrights Dinner at Fishmongers Hall, London, last week. 

Certificates and money were handed to the seven cadets from London Area when the Livery Court of Shipwrights met before the dinner.

The cadets are: Marine Cadet 1st Class James, Able Cadet Sam, Marine Cadet 1st Class Max and Cadet Corporal Ted from Bexley Unit; Cadet 1st Class Louie from Greenwich Unit; Ordinary Cadet Emma from Sutton Unit; and Cadet 1st Class Ben from Southwark Unit.

Bursaries are crucial to Sea Cadets, offering all young people the chance to be part of the adventure and sail offshore.

The charity believes sailing, being part of a team and pulling together to navigate Britain’s coastal waters is a great way for young people to find new confidence and reach new heights for the best possible head start in life.

Milford Haven Sea Cadets rubbed shoulders with five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave at the launch of a new company.

The young people met rower Sir Steve at the event in honour of Wave-tricity, a renewable wave energy company on the Haven Waterway that has chosen the unit as its affiliated charity.

The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant (SCC) William Elliott RNR, said: “It was a pleasure and privilege to meet Sir Steve Redgrave and for the cadets to take part in such a launch event.

"The cadets did really enjoy themselves, and they couldn’t believe how tall he was!"

The company is ran and managed by former Royal Navy officers, who wanted to link up with their local Sea Cadets unit.

Cadets stewarded at the launch, and even got to try out the wave technology.

Congratulations to Lincoln Royal Marines Detachment, which won this year's Gibraltar Cup! 

The gruelling three-day contest came to an end yesterday, with Lincoln, pictured during training, winning by a four-point margin.

The event takes place at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone, Devon, and the finalists were assessed on skills such as camouflage and concealment, observation, judging distance, practical leadership and patrol lanes. 

The Captain Sea Cadets, Captain Phil Russell, said: “Gibraltar Cup is the highlight of the Royal Marines Cadets calendar, and it was great to see all the hard months of training pay off.

“Well done to all the detachments, who should be really proud of their efforts, and congratulations to Lincoln, who won what was a closely-fought contest."

Chatham finished in sixth place, Queensferry placed fifth, and Plymouth (Drake) came in fourth. Maldon and District was third, while Preston was the runner-up.

#NationalApprenticeshipWeek gets under way today, and aims to bring together employers and apprentices from across England.

Sea Cadets gives you the skills and confidence to follow the career you choose, whether that's via an apprenticeship, university, the Navy, or something else. 90% of Sea Cadets said that the organisation has offered “direction and guidance”, helping them go onto a brighter future.