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A YAG (NATO designation for a "training vessel less than 40 metres") is a 75 foot,75gross ton (1 ton equils 100 cubic feet) navel training vessel. A vessel has two types of tonnage. Gross tonnage is a measure of volume. Displacement tonnage is a measure of weight.

The YAG's used by Sea Cadets were built in the 1950's as YFM's (Yard Ferry Man). There were later called YPS's (Yard Ferry Personnel). They were used as harbour ferry boats and later converted to training vessels for seamanship and navigation. There are six YAG's at CFB Esquimalt and three YFB's (Yard Ferry Boats-the new name for YFP). CFB Halifax has two YFB's.

The YAG's are 18 feet wide. The hulls are carvel planked (planks laid edge on to each other rather than overlaping). On the outside of the bow (front of boat) of the vessel are some Roman Numerals. The numerals are six inches high in black paint. They show the Draught of the vessel or how moch of the hull is under the water. Similar numerals are used on freighters to show how much the load has weighted down the vessel. The draught of a YAG is approximately 4 feet at the bow and 4.5 feet aft (very back of the boat).

Theys stats are from the Yag 300 Class vessels
length 75ft-3inch
Beam 18ft-6inch
Draft FWD 3ft-8inch
Draft AFT 4ft-2inch
MAX Displacement 70 Tons
Fuel Capacity 690 Gals
Fresh Water Capacity 385 Gals
Water Line To Antenna Top 34ft-8inch
Antenna To Yard Arm 7ft-11inch
Top Of Mast To Bridge Deack 18ft-4inch
Bridge Deack To Main Deack 7ft-1inch
Main Deack To Water Line 5ft-2inch

When the YFP's were converted to training vessels, accommodation was put into both the forward and aft cabins. The forward cabin of a YAG contains bunks for the officers, a table, gally and a head (bathroom) . Generally speaking the Captian, Executive oficer (XO), the Sea Training Officer (STO) and the engineer or coxswain will sleep in the forward cabin. The aft cabin contains bunks for the crew, a table, chairs and a head (bathroom). The total number of bunks however, depends upon the YAG.

Each Yag is fited out with old and new equipment from the 60's to today's technolegy. The yag's also carry a wide varity of safty equipment wich cadets and navy personal learn to use. Everything from fire hoses to the Power boat is all used by the cadets durning training. Each cadet is trained to use this equipment and is familiarized with it as well.
to see photos of the vessels and equipment on board a YAG. Just click here to see them

ERD or Emergency Response Drills

Cadets and members of the Canadian forces use theys Yag's regularly and often they stay on board over night. It's impotant that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency because the fire department or the Coast Guard isn't going to be there right away. So cadets and members of the canadian forces do extensive drills involving all aspects of a senaro where things could go wrong. The most commen drills are fire drills, MOBEX or Man Over Board Exercise, and survival Stations. In some cases Bomb drills or Missing person or persons and life boat launching drills are conducted as well.

Fire Drills

One of the most serious problems that can occur aboard a vessel is a fire. There are three things that are necessary befroe s fire can start - fuel, air and heat. When fighting a fire it is necessary to remove one of these three and the fire will go out. A fire fighting lecture is given to the crew of a YAG every time when there at sea. If you ever find you're self at one of theys lectures pay special attention because when you are at sea we can not call the fire department - YOU are the fire department.


Portable fire extinguishers are called fist aid extinguishers as they are the fist used on a fire. A YAG has two types of fist aid extinguishers. The Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are painted red and come in 15lb and 5lb sizes. To activate them pull out a pin and squeez the triger. These are to be used on Class B fires (Liquids and grease) and Class C fires (electrical). Care must be taken not to spread the fire with the sudden burst of pressure from the extinguisher. When using a CO2 extinguisher you must be careful never to touch the nozzle. The CO2 is expelled at -140 degrees celsius (-110 fahrenhiet). If your hand is touching the nozzle it will immediately be frozen.


The "trainies" on board a YAG are men and women in the Canadian Forces and Royal Candain Sea Cadets who are young men and women ages 12-19, who are not members of the Canadain forecs.


The Jobs on a YAG consist of two watches port and starboard watch which alternate every 30 minutes so the work is shared evenly between the two watches.
On a YAG the cadets do all the opperating of the ship, right down the the steering of the vessel and even cooking.heres the list of jobs and what they do.


The helmsman is stationed at the helm in the wheelhouse. In front and above the head of the helmsman is a rudder angle indicator to allow the person on the helm to see what position the rudder is in, in relation to the fore and aft line of the ship. The Rudder Angle Indicator is graduated in steps of five degrees to 45 degrees on the Port (Red) and starboard (Green) sides of the fore and aft line of the ship. When the rudder is in the middle it is said to be amidships. When reporting to the bridge the term "wheel" is used , not rudder because you cannot be 100% sure of the exact angle of the rudder arm (tiller) even through you know where the wheel is.

It is the duty of the helmsman to steer the vessel and to handle the engine telegraphs according to OOW (Officer Of the Watch) orders. The helmsman repeats the order that is given, caries it out and then states that it has been. When engine orders are given by the OOW a similar procedure is followed. The OOW gives the order, it is repeated by the helmsman and then either the helmsman or another person operating the telegraphs moves them to the correct postion and the helmsman reports when the proper engine respose has been obtained.

LifeBouy Sentry

This is one of the more important jobs aboard a YAG. The lifebouy sentry is responsible to see that if anyone goes overboard, the entire ship is notified immediately and to see that he never loses sight of the person in the water. The sentry stands at the stern of the vessel, facing aft,holding a kisby ring and wearing a life jacket or floater coat. If he sees a person in the water he immediately throws the kisby rang to the person (without hitting them) while yelling "MAN OVERBOARD MAN OVERBOARD" constant vigilance is needed as a person drifts past you 17 feet a second. If you talk to your friend for 30 seconds, a shipmate could be 157 meters (510 feet) astern.


The messenger must always be accessible to the OOW or the OOW must know where the messenger has gone. If the OOW is on the bridge, the messenger always stands by the ladder to the bridge in such a position as to be able to seee and hear the bridge personnel. In poor weather the OOW may be in the wheelhouse in which in which case the messenger stands out side the wheelhouse door.

The OOW cannot leave the position therefore the messsenger is his only line of communication to hear the other members of the ship's company, he/she shall repeat it verbally it exactly as given so that the meaning is not changed.


The lookouts are normally stationed on the bridge. They are responsible for maintaining a constant watch and informing the OOW of any objects sighted. The waters in B.C. have a large number of logs which would cause damage to a YAG if the vessel hit them. In addition there is a great deal of vessel traffic which the OOW needs to know about. Lookouts should also watch for the various navigational markers, fishing nets, floats or any object on the water.

The Lookout's repot must be clear, consice and loud enough. It must give the Object sighted is bearing relative to the ships' head and state whather it is near or far. All bearings are given as relative bearings: red(port)or green(starboard) and then the degrees from 0 (dead ahead) to 180(right astern). more info will be posted soon

Cadets and officers are hard at work just before lunch tie up.

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Here is a link to the cadet national web site. More info will be posted soon.

click here to explore the Royal Canadain Sea Cadet Site