US Naval Sea Cadets, STEAM Youth Sail Programs
2025 NSCC Summer Trainings
2025 NSCC Small Boat Sailing
NEW! On Board Berthing!
Hobie Catamarans are a staple among new boating enthusiasts for a reason. They are easy, fast, and fun to sail and are often used as the standard “starting boat” for those who like “messin’ about in boats.” In this all outdoors on-the-water hands-on training led by a professional catamaran instructor Cadets will learn the skills to maneuver their own 14 foot “hobie cat.” They will learn basic principles of boating and sailing techniques. Our professional instructor “John Z” as we call him is a passionate sailor, experienced award-winning teacher and guide, and loves introducing people to sailing. Sign Up!
NEW! Sea to Land Ops
June 15 – June 25
NEW! Messing About in Boats
On Board Berthing
July 20 – July 26
Make a new splash this summer! A messabout is an event where a group of people get together to discuss and “mess about” in boats. Being a messabout is being playful and carefree on a boat, perhaps just enjoying the experience of being on the water without any specific destination or purpose.
The term is derived from the children’s book The Wind in the Willows written in 1908 by Kenneth Grahame. In the story, Mole and Rat are rowing up the river in Rat’s boat. They are discussing nautical things and life in general when Rat is heard to utter the following:
Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing… about in boats — or with boats. In or out of ’em, it doesn’t matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you’ve done it there’s always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you’d much better not.
Shipboard Maintenance
Cadets will learn what it is like to walk in the shoes of a ship’s Bosun Mate. A combination of classroom, visual and daily practical hands-on tasks in designated categories will teach cadets what goes into the care and maintenance of a tall ship, including the following:
• How the ship maintenance plan aims to get the most amount of repair and work done in the least amount of time which ensures that the ship is seaworthy.
• The two different approaches to carrying out a ship maintenance – reactive and proactive. Reactive maintenance is carried out once the incident has occurred. A proactive approach has a planned and preventive aspect to it.
• Participation in the basics for the three main types of maintenance procedures (preventative or planned maintenance systems, corrective or breakdown maintenance systems, and condition-based maintenance systems).
2025 NSCC Boat Building
Cadets will build a 14-foot gypsy skiff combining marine plywood and white oak. The instructors will lead discussions in small-craft design, selecting a suitable design for the amateur builder, setting up a one-man shop, proper hand and power tool usage, and much more. As the skiff takes shape through the week our beautiful setting at the picturesque Chula Vista Harbor offers calmer waters to learn how to row the newly built boat.
This outdoor hands-on class is for the person who has or would like to have workshop skills and building things. The course will start with understanding boat plans and lofting, and proceed through scarfing, framing, planking, and interior joiner work. Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water…. Cadets will first have to learn how to “pay the devil!” Sign Up!