UKSA is a maritime youth charity and world-renowned training centre of excellence, delivering a wide range of leisure, further education, professional career courses, and MCA deck officer training.

From our unique four-acre campus in Cowes, Isle of Wight, we have over 38 years’ experience delivering education and training programmes in sailing, watersports, yachting, and maritime engineering. Our team of experts, mentors, and world-class facilities provide the best environment to gain skills, resilience, and the technical expertise to succeed.

We’re easily accessible from Bournemouth, Southampton, and London airports. With transport links arriving at either Portsmouth or Southampton ferry terminals. 

Why choose UKSA?

• RYA and MCA Training Centre of Excellence
• Food and accommodation come as standard. Everything you need you’ll find on our vibrant waterfront location: accommodation block, canteen, bar, swimming pool, and classrooms are all housed on campus
• Our purpose-built training facilities provide the best environment to gain skills, resilience, and technical expertise directly connected with industry - state of the art TRANSAS suite, Farr 65ft yacht, Superyacht training centre

Professional Career Training:

An RYA Centre of Excellence, UKSA offers a full range of professional maritime training, launching long-term careers in a growing industry with plenty of opportunities for employment. If you are thinking about a career at sea, teaching watersports or travelling the world working on-board a superyacht, UKSA has a course to suit your needs. 

If you want to see UKSA first hand and get a feel for what life would be like as a future UKSA student, book onto an Open Day here: https://uksa.org/course/professional-training/attend-an-open-day

With the generous support of individuals and donors, we have funding opportunities available for you if you have real financial need. 

MCA Deck Officer Training: UKSA is one of the world's top three providers of MCA yacht certificates, offering a comprehensive range of all-inclusive MCA and STCW approved courses, including Safety, Security and Engineering Training through to MCA Deck Officer and Master training for superyachts and workboats.

Run by James Potipher, our instructional team is made up of highly skilled industry experts from the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and superyacht sectors; Authorities that will share their skills and expertise with you as you study. Our doors don’t close when classes end. We offer flexibility and extensive scheduling around each course, with access to our classrooms and resources in the evening too.

We will have a course to suit you, whether you are an entry-level novice or a professional looking to top up your training and qualifications.