SWINDON'S Sea Cadets will be able to take to the water in style after more than a year's worth of fund raising finally paid off.

The group, based in Upham Road, have spent the last 14 months working towards being able to buy a new boat.

The 30 10-18-year-olds needed the new boat, a Laser Pico, to be able to take part in competitions across the country.

Boats officer Vince Cain said: "It's a fantastic boat and we'll hopefully get it on the water very soon.

"The cadets have been instrumental in the fund raising and it's for their benefit.

"The difficulty is going to be giving them all a turn because they are all going to want to go out in it."

The cadets held car boot sales, packed bags at Sainsburys in Bridgemead and helped out at the Wroughton Carnival and Faringdon Road Youth Day to raise the necessary £2,000.

Commanding officer Keith Taylor said: "We wanted to thank everybody who helped because you often donate money and then you don't hear anything.

"But a lot of people have been very generous and it's good to show them that we've got something to show for it and they have helped us out."

The Royal Navy Association and the Wren's Association made donations towards the boat and the Resolution nursery which shares a building with the cadets also helped.

Yesterday was the first time the cadets had all seen the product of their hard work and the boat was christened with a chocolate bottle of champagne, donated by Thornton's.

Mr Cain is anticipating a busy summer ahead for the new acquisition.

He said: "We try to sail as many weekends during the summer plus Tuesday and Friday evenings as we can.

"The Sea Cadets corps has gone over to these boats so all the competitions are done racing these things and we didn't have one so we were at a disadvantage.

"If we're going to compete successfully we need one otherwise we would turn up at competitions and not know how to sail the things.

"It was a case of putting the fundraising up to get one and it's quite a lot of money for us."

The boat will mainly be used by those members aged 12 and over.

Sixteen-year-old leading cadet Emily Milne, from Blunsdon, said: "It should be good to use it. We put a lot of work in and it has paid off by the end result of getting the boat."

Christopher Mackins, 16, a leading cadet from Rushey Platt, added: "I'm hoping to get the chance to go out in it.

"I enjoy sailing and we'll probably be fighting each other to have a go."

For more information on the Swindon Sea Cadets call 01793 532059 or visit www.swindonseacadets.co.uk.