Isle of Wight Open evening

UKSA Open Evening
Wednesday July 8th 2009
4pm - 8pm

If you live on the Isle of Wight and would like to find out more about the training and career opportunities provided by UKSA, then you should register for UKSA's Open evening next Wednesday 8th July. The event will take place at UKSA's Cowes campus between 4pm and 8pm. Everyone is welcome. The event will give an introductory insight into the training and programmes the UKSA offers, as well as providing an opportunity to tour the UKSA's site and facilities. Tea, coffee and a light buffet will be provided.

Find out about training opportunities for the marine and leisure sector, and discover the career opportunities available after training at UKSA including:-

Leisure Yachting training, Leisure watersports training,Marine hospitality, Marine engineering, Professional yacht crew,Delivery skipper, Charter flotilla skipper, Watersports instructor training.

To reserve your seat call Bethany on 01983 203034

www.uksa.org

Round the island on your PC this weekend!

This coming weekend around 1,700 boats will compete in the famous Round the Island Race starting from Cowes on Saturday morning, 20 June.

Cowes TV will again be covering the annual sailing extravaganza with cameras afloat and ashore, including one on the RNLI's Yarmouth Lifeboat, which helps provide on the water rescue cover.

Internet viewers can watch the starts live, from 0730 to 0910 BST, thanks to our streaming video camera on the Royal Yacht Squadron start line.

When the sailors get back ashore on Saturday, they will be able to enjoy a drink while watching video highlights on our iZone network of HD screens in the Cowes pubs and Cowes Yacht Haven.

Then, on Sunday, Cowes TV will publish a full video report of the race on Cowes Online, www.cowes.co.uk

Charter Yachts for Cowes Week

UKSA have 8 yachts available for skippered leisure charter during Cowes Week 09. Prices range from £450 for a 36-42ft yachts ( up to our 2 Challenge 67 yachts at £1700. Contact Claire Hector on 01983 294941.

UKSA also have their motor yacht for day charters for just £595 per day. Charter for more than one day and you get free berthing at UKSA in Cowes.

The Academy is a great riverside venue with showers, bar and conference facilities, all a short walk from the town centre.

We charge £30 for fuel and gas for a day charter. Any longer charters should return the boat with a full tank (the skipper can refuel for you here at UKSA).

Oilskins can be loaned to guests free of charge (refundable deposit required). We can also provide some fantastic food options from simple crew pack-ups to our VIP platters and overnight charterers are welcome to book in for breakfasts or evening meals in the UKSA dining room.

The yachts are for leisure charter only and may not be used for racing purposes.

To charter a yacht or for further information, contact Claire Hector on 01983 294941.


Details of Cowes Week Yachts available for charters

Marlin
Fairline Phantom 38 motor-yacht
Maximum 7 berth + skipper
Available Saturday 1st August – Sunday 9th August inclusive
£595 per day inclusive of skipper.
Day charters only – no overnight stay
*Fuel – charterers to pay what has been used from deposit.







Albatross
Challenge 67
Maximum 12 berth + skipper and mate
Available Friday 31st July – Sunday 9th August inclusive
£1700 per day inclusive of skipper and mate




Whirlwind
Challenge 67
Maximum 12 berth + skipper and mate
Available Sunday 2nd – Sunday 9th August inclusive
£1700 per day inclusive of skipper and mate




Freedom
Sweden 42
Max 7 + skipper for day charter
Max 6 + skipper if staying away overnight
Available Saturday 1st August – Friday 7th August inclusive
£450 per day inclusive of skipper.



Avocet
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43
Max 7 + skipper for day charter
Max 6 + skipper if staying away overnight
Available Saturday 1st August – Sunday 9th August inclusive
£450 per day inclusive of skipper.


Harrier
Elan 36
Max 7 + skipper for day charter
6 + skipper if staying away overnight
Available Monday 3rd August – Sunday 9th August
£450 per day inclusive of skipper.




Falcon
Elan 45
Max 5 plus skipper for daycharter
4 plus skipper if staying away overnight
Available Monday 3rd August – Sunday 9th August
£450 per day inclusive of skipper.


Please note that all prices are include VAT but exclude fuel, food and berthing.

Survival of the Fittest!

Wondering how to give yourself the best chance of securing a job after training in this tough economic climate?

Whilst browsing through the latest issue of Dockwalk magazine, we've come across a really interesting article that we'd love to share with you.

Dockwalk gives you an independent perspective on the ailing job market, and how taking a 'Darwin-esque' approach to your training and future employment, ensuring that your position is recession-proof.

It's well worth a read! To take a look, click here.

Read more recession-busting career advice at www.dockwalk.com/crew.

We'd love to hear what you think!

Here come the girls!

Record-breaking yachtswoman and UKSA graduate, Dee Caffari, and her all female crew aboard Aviva had a flying start in their bid to prove 'Britain's Got Talent' on the high seas, as they set off in an attempt to smash the Round Britain and Ireland speed record.

Joining Dee are fellow Brits, Vendee Globe rival Samantha Davies, offshore sailor Miranda Merron and boat captain Alex Sizer, Germam Figaro sailor Isabelle Joschke and freelance journalist Johanna Payton.

Starting and finishing in Portsmouth, the route is almost 2500 nautical miles around the British coastline featuring some of the world's most technical waters with everchanging weather conditions, tidal flows and adverse land effects. Extra vigilance will be needed throughout the record attempt for shipping and other obstructions such as oil rigs in the North Sea.

The current outright record to sail around Britain and Ireland in a monohull yacht stands at 7 days 4 hours and was set in May 2004 onboard Solune. The record for an all female crew stands at 10 days 16 hours, which was set by Samantha Davies and her crew onboard Roxy in June 2007. With the potential to break two records, Dee and the crew on Aviva waited for ideal weather conditions before setting off on the 16th June 2009.

We wish Dee and the team the best of luck and will be following their progress throughout their voyage!

For an up-to-date progress report, click here.

UKSA reaches out to largest group numbers of 2009 so far!

We have always been busy introducing more and more young people to the joys of on the water sports, but this week we have facilitated even more fun on the water and we didn't want it to go unnoticed averaging at 256.8 children on site this week alone, it's the largest number so far this season, with larger numbers getting involved in activities over the coming five weeks.

It seems that the on-the-water action at UKSA will be at an all-time high this year, and we are delighted because our work is reaching out and changing the lives of more and more young people and its what we all work hard for at UKSA.

If you'd like to be a part of our summer fun, please check out our summer fun course page. We still have some dates and places on summer camps in July and August

Magnus, Ocean Graduate 2007, is Sole Engineer on 34m Motor Yacht

With a background as a software engineer, Magnus came to UKSA to gain as many qualifications/experience as possible in order to enter the industry as an engineer. After graduating, Magnus gained some day work on a 32m Sailing Yacht in Antibes and continued there for 2 months, becoming relief engineer for the following month. After some time spent dock walking in Palma and Malta with no luck, he decided to spend the winter back in Sweden waiting for the next season to start. He secured a position in early April and spent a season as Mate/Engineer on a 26m Sailing Yacht which cruised Sardinia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro and at the end of the season joined a 34m Motor Yacht as Sole Engineer.

Taigh, Ocean Graduate 2009, has joined a 40m Motor Yacht

Taigh previously worked as the Commanding Officer for the Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Search and Rescue. Before he finished his Ocean Graduate course, he found work as deckhand on a brand new 40m Motor Yacht based in Turkey. Taigh is extremely keen to build on his experience and achieve his Officer of the Watch 3000 within 3 years.

James, Yachting Cadet 2009, is working on 38m Sailing Yacht in the Mediterranean

Before coming to UKSA, James worked as a Dinghy Instructor and competed in various yacht races. On completion of his initial phase of training for his cadetship, he flew to Antibes to look for work. After a couple of trials, James decided that a 38m Sailing Yacht was for him. He is now working as First Mate with 5 other crew and cruising the Mediterranean.

Follow Hilary's 'Round Britain Dream'

Quadriplegic sailor and UKSA ambassador, Hilary Lister, is currently fulfilling her dream of becoming the first quadriplegic woman to sail solo around the coast of Britain.

Hilary began her courageous journey from Plymouth on the 18th of May 2009, and is currently rounding the northern Welsh coast.

Her boat Me Too, an Artimis 20, which is a 6m carbon fibre keelboat is controlled using a 'sip and puff' system. Three straws, which are connected to sensitive pressure switches, are used and a gentle 'sip' on one takes the boat starboard (right) and a 'puff' on the other takes it to port (left).

Follow Hilary's 'Round Britain Dream' on her blog or on twitter. Just follow the links below:

Hilary's blog

Twitter.com/HilaryLister

Chernikeeff II clinches Myth of Malham victory!

Congratulations to the GBR Yacht Race Academy crew onboard Chernikeef II who sailed to victory in the Myth of Malham Race in May 2009.

The 230 mile race from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes around the Eddystone Lighthouse and back proved to be a very demanding race for the 130 boats competing for the RORC Myth of Malham Trophy. Light airs and strong tides conspired to produce a tactical conundrum that was an ever changing picture.

After an unexpectedly breezy start off the Squadron line, the fleet headed off into a dying breeze in the Solent. After staying in the Island shore, Chernikeef II quickly sailed through the early starters to lead the fleet out of the Solent and towards the Lighthouse, where the crew began to experience wind from almost every direction and long periods of light airs.

As Chernikeeff II came back towards the Solent they caught sight of their competitors. The crew used the tide well and kept her moving in very little wind. By the finish line they had closed the gap to the winner over the water to just 20 seconds, winning the race by adjusted time by well over an hour.

This is another fantastic result in what has been a highly successful season so far for the young GBR Yacht Race Academy team.

Interview with World Kayak Surf champion goes live on watersports podcast

This month the watersports podcast is focusing on kayaking, and the first of our audio content is an interview with Tim Thomas, an experienced Kayak Surfer who twice won the world Kayak Surf championships in the 1990's.

Tim who now works for Johnson Outdoors talks to us about how he got into Kayak surfing, and walks us through some of the latest designs and options for those new to kayak, including sit on tops and Inflatables and Kayak Fishing rigs.

Check out our watersports podcast by visiting the podcasts blog page

Isle Swim For Kids

Shanklin resident, Richard will be attempting a solo swim around the Island this August to raise funds for UKSA's projects with Medina House School and Ventnor Middle School. The monies raised from this gruelling challenge will be used to give even more young people the opportunity to experience a new environment, meet new challenges and develop skills for life through watersports activities.

Whilst the feat of swimming around the Island itself has been tackled by some teams and individuals, the 65 mile distance, which is equivalent to swimming the Channel three times, is not only hazardous but requires an enormous amount of dedication to negotiate tides and ever-changing weather conditions. If successful, Richard will be the first resident to successfully swim non-stop round the Isle of Wight.

To support this uniquely Island based project, email: fundraising@uksa.org or visit Richard's Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/medinahouseschool