Five more spaces released for the January Commercial Yachtmaster...

Due to a very high demand for places on our 11th January Commercial Yachtmaster course we have managed to release five more places!


The 12 week January Commercial Yachtmaster finishes on the 4th April which is the perfect time to head down to the Med to find work whilst all the yachts are crewing up for the season. Training in the Solent over the winter months is a fantastic training ground to prepare you for a career in the yachting industry.


We are currently taking deposits for the waiting list and once we reach the minimum number required we will be able to confirm the additional crew.


Call us on +44(0)1983 203038 if you're interested in snapping up one of the last five places on this course...

Yachting Podcast Interviews Halcyon Yacht Charters

This month we bring you an interview with Halcyon Yacht Charter's Annette Corder.  We talk with Annette about working on halcyon, a luxury 95ft  wooden  ketch built in the 1920's and recently restored to her former glory.


Listen to the podcast and find out more about working on a busy charter yacht.

>>get the podcast

Merry Christmas from UKSA!

As a gift from us to you...

Reserve your place on a Yachting Career or Watersports Career training course and receive a discount of £100 if you book before Christmas!

Offer ends Friday 18th December, call +44(0)1983 203038 for more information or to reserve your place.

Kitesurfing Promo

Looking to find out what UKSA offers want to be kitesurfing professionals?  Check out our latest Youtube movie.  and if you like it.... please rate it on YouTube and add a comment :-)

If you enjoy this and are inspired to find out more, you should also check out our interview with Jeremy Waitt, who walks us through some of the great benefits offered by UKSA's Kitesurf training in Abu Soma.

>Find out more about UKSA Kitesurf Instructor Training

Interview with Jeremy Waitt on Kitesurf training in Abu Soma, Egypt

This week we finally got to work on the footage from this seasons Kitesurfing in Egypt. This Interview with Jeremy Waitt gives a great insight into what is on offer on our 6 weeks of modules that lead to BKSA Kitesurfing Instructor certification.

If you want a qualification that leads to interesting and stimulating work, plus the opportunity to travel... this is it!

Leisure Yachting Special offers November/December 2009

Great news, we are now offering 1/3rd off the cost of the programmes below. This special offer is valid for bookings made after the 12th November 2009 and is subject to availability.

- Day Skipper Theory and Practical Sail 26th November - 4th December. Normally £820pp . . . now just £546pp.

- Day Skipper Theory and Practical Power 14th - 22nd November. Normally £1095pp . . . now just £730pp.


- Short Range Radio 13th November. Normally £105pp . . . now just £70pp.

- Mile Builder 16th - 29th November. Normally £1030pp . . . now just £686pp.

- Elementary First Aid 17th November. Normally £105pp . . . now just £70pp.

- Personal Survival Techniques 21st November. Normally £105pp . . . now just £70pp.

- Diesel Engine Maintainence 21st November. Normally £105pp . . . now just £70pp.

- Cruising Instructor 30th November - 4th December. Normally £515pp . . . now just £343pp.

- Mile Builder 20th November - 13th December. Normally £1030pp . . . now just £686pp.

- Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper prep and exam 12th December - 18th December. Normally £650pp . . . now just £433pp.



The above offers cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. If you would like to book yourself or any of your friends or family onto any of the above, please call the UKSA Careers Advisors on 01983 203034 and ask for 'UKSA Blog Offer Nov/Dec 09' at the time of booking. Upon quotation, your course advisor will ask you to e-mail a code to them; if you don't ask when you book we cant do you a deal!

Don't miss "Four Dimensions'

Four Dimensions is the hottest windsurfing movie around at the moment, featuring some of the most cutting edge freestyle windsurfers, in some of the best locations worldwide.

With an awesome soundtrack, and super hot footage, watching this movie is guaranteed to make you itch to get on the water. The movie also shows some in-depth rider profiles, where each of the riders talk about their inspirations, and background of the sport, as well as other riders talking about them.

Look out for Gollito’s insane freestyle riding and Marcillio Browne’s unique ability in wave sailing. Here’s a link to the trailer, but get on and watch the whole movie too.

We just had to share this with you.

Case Study - Josh Stickland

Josh came to UKSA to take part in The Prince's Trust 'Get Into Maritime' programme in 2008. Having undertaken numerous unskilled jobs from the age of 15 in order to support his family, Josh recognised the opportunities within the maritime sector and also his own abilities at the activities he undertook on the water.

Through the autumn and winter of 2008 Josh trained with UKSA to become a watersports instructor. His relentlessly positive approach saw him excel through his training and receive his qualifications.

In 2009 Josh has worked as a watersports instructor at UKSA and contributed hugely to a great variety of young people with his instructional skill and zest for life and learning. The young people he has worked with have all been influenced by his endless positivity.

After working and saving hard, Josh is planning to travel to NZ this Autumn. Not having been on holiday since the age of 11 his recent experiences with The Prince's Trust and UKSA have given him the confidence to embark on this adventure. UKSA is delighted that Josh will be returning to work with us for the 2010 season.



Would you like to follow in Josh’s footsteps and swap that dead end job to work outdoors in a fun, dynamic and rewarding career?

Contact a UKSA Course Adviser for further details on how you can train to become a watersports instructor. Tel 01983 203034

UKSA Features on BBC's Flog It

This was filmed way back in the summer but was aired on BBC2 this week. Flog It came to the Isle of Wight, and they simply had to feature on our very own sailing antique Gipsy Moth IV.

They did a great history of the boat which we think can't be missed, so we are posting a link on the blog. As Richard Baggett mentions, Gipsy Moth IV is available for charter. Find out more about Chartering Gipsy Moth IV here

If you missed it, check out this BBC iPlayer link which we have fast forwarded to the Gipsy Moth IV section. Thanks BBC :-)

View UKSA History of Gipsy Moth IV Flog it film

Earn while you learn!

At UKSA we're always looking at ways to make our training more accessible to more people, and the new Watersports Internship will do just that.

The programme follows the Instructor Foundations, Dinghy Core Skills, Dinghy Instructor, Kayak Core Skills & Instructor and the Advanced Instructor courses, followed by a period of 17 weeks work as a watersports instructor at UKSA, Cowes.

The cost of the initial training is £4,830 (including food and accommodation) and the typical earning potential for the 17 weeks paid placement approximately £3927 (based on a 22 year old).

The first Internship will start in February 2010, and with only 5 places available, competition is high. We will be holding an Internship Selection 26th - 27th November 2009 at a cost of £50 to cover accommodation and food costs.

If you're interested in the Internship, please call us on 01983 203034 for more information and to book on to the Selection.

Check out our Podcast interview with Alex Gardener