UKSA are excited to be welcoming their latest cohort of Superyacht Crew Training Students. It’s going to be an exciting 3 weeks where the new recruits will be learning all about vessel care, deck work, safety procedures. The course is the perfect springboard into the superyacht industry. Thanks to UKSA’s expert tuition, purpose-built site and ALL-INCLUSIVE, intensive training package, you can start your career in the superyacht industry after just 19 days at UKSA, armed with all the qualifications and skills you need. Click HERE to find our more.

UKSA has announced it is a finalist in the 2023 School Travel Awards which recognise inspiring people and the best companies, venues and attractions which provide school trips. Voted for by readers of School Travel Organiser, which helps teachers and educational visit coordinators plan and create school trips and learning outside the classroom, the Isle of Wight based charity has been shortlisted in the Best Sporting Venue category.

UKSA Professional Yachtmaster Offshore graduate Lungi Mchunu, who despite previously being afraid of the ocean, went on to become the first African woman to sail the Arctic. She built up a relationship during her time at UKSA and was subsequently offered a place on Maiden’s next world tour, which continues to represent the empowerment of women, the strength of women, and what women are capable of. To find out more, click here.

From the 6th – 12th February UKSA celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, partnering with The Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) and the Isle of Wight College, UKSA shared a range of training options for apprenticeships, helping to expand the number of young people training and working as apprentices in the maritime sector. The training that we deliver for apprenticeship schemes provides young people with employment in specialist sectors within the marine industry – specifically ports, harbours and near coastal routes. Click here to read more.

UKSA Superyacht Cadetship selection days see candidates battle it out to build a platform to support three people. Skills honed? Communication, team work and crucially leadership skills. The UKSA Superyacht Cadetship is a structured four-year programme designed to train the future officers of the superyacht industry. Designed in consultation with the MCA, the Superyacht Cadetship combines the most relevant training and mentoring in the industry. It equips graduates with a strong foundation of knowledge alongside offering a realistic understanding of what it takes to succeed in a career in the Superyacht industry. Want to find out more? Click here.

UKSA superyacht cadetship graduate Holly Barnard, 24, has landed a dream role as a second mate on board Pangaea’s SV Sea Dragon. Holly from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands learning to sail recreationally as a child, before later completing training at UKSA for a professional maritime career. “Every day is an adventure,” said Holly. “Exploring unknow territories, meeting wildlife and being able to sail to areas only accessible by boat is pretty spectacular. I joined the boat in Victoria B.C, where we sailed North through the infamous Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Alaska. We’ve been so lucky to explore trails only accessed by local bears, wolves, swum in natural hot springs, waterfalls and glacier waters”. James Potifer, UKSA Cadetship Manager said: “Hearing a story like Holly’s is what it’s all about at UKSA and seeing students fulfil their potential and leave us fully equipped to take on maritime roles they’ve trained for is the ultimate reward”.
yacht cadetship graduate Holly Barnard, 24, has landed a dream role as a second mate on board Pangaea’s SV Sea Dragon. Holly from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands learning to sail recreationally as a child, before later completing training at UKSA for a professional maritime career. “Every day is an adventure,” said Holly. “Exploring unknow territories, meeting wildlife and being able to sail to areas only accessible by boat is pretty spectacular. I joined the boat in Victoria B.C, where we sailed North through the infamous Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Alaska. We’ve been so lucky to explore trails only accessed by local bears, wolves, swum in natural hot springs, waterfalls and glacier waters”. James Potifer, UKSA Cadetship Manager said: “Hearing a story like Holly’s is what it’s all about at UKSA and seeing students fulfil their potential and leave us fully equipped to take on maritime roles they’ve trained for is the ultimate reward”.

UKSA has announced a partnership with multi-award-winning tour operator Neilson Active Holidays which sees Watersports instructor training students guaranteed job roles with Neilson as well as course fee support. UKSA’s 12- week course gives you the skills you need to start your career in the Watersports industry. You will qualify as a multi-disciplined instructor to teach windsurfing, dinghy sailing and wingsurfing enabling you to teach beginners, train future instructors and share your passion for the water. You will also gain your multihull endorsement and train on paddleboards and paddlesports craft. On successful completion of training and subject to interview, you will start your career working for Neilson at one of its beautiful beach resorts based in Greece, Italy or Croatia.

Dee Caffari, British yachtswoman and UKSA’s Youth and Mental Health Ambassador, has visited the Cowes based charity to share her Round Britain and Ireland Race experience. The visit saw Dee host a session with UKSA’s further education students, talking about the race this summer, as well as giving the students an opportunity to ask questions regarding building resilience while out on the water. Dee said: “It was great to return to where my sailing career started at UKSA and share some of the challenges, triumphs and frustrations of my recent race”. Ben Willows, UKSA CEO comments: “It was important to us when appointing Dee as our Youth and Mental Health Ambassador that our students had access to Dee, and her wealth of knowledge and experience.” Read more here.

Yachtmaster graduate Julia Prinselaar shares her fantastic journey on the ocean with training provider UKSA. “UKSA’s offshore qualification opened a big door to a professional life of adventure. I completed my studies at the end of April and began work in the marine industry in May 2022. I am First Mate of a 56’ aluminium expedition sailing vessel that works with scientists and documentary filmmakers operating in Greenland and the Canadian Artic. Together with my husband, we also run High Latitudes, consulting with private yacht owners who wish to take their vessels into polar regions north and south.” Read more here.

UKSA has announced a new partnership with Inspiring Learning, a leading provider of outdoor learning programmes for all ages. The new ‘Woodland and Waves’ residential programme is a dual centre experience, located on the Isle of Wight at both Inspiring Learning and UKSA’s centres. Children will be able to experience a wide variety of both land and water-based activities across the two centres, helping them to build confidence, work as part of a team and develop resilience. Available during autumn and spring months, the programme is completely customisable and offers five-day, four-night stays. Activities include water-based options such as dinghy sailing, keelboating, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking alongside shore-based choices of climbing, abseiling, zip wire, aero ball, high and low ropes, buggy building, and bushcraft.