On Friday 22 May, as part of this year’s World Boating Day celebrations, UKSA welcomed teams from local media and business organisations for a fantastic day of racing, networking and hands-on sailing on the Solent.
Representatives from Burgess, Island Echo and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce came together at UKSA’s Cowes campus for a friendly J80 challenge designed to celebrate the Island’s deep connection with the maritime industry while showcasing the opportunities available through sailing and watersports.
Cat Dixon, CEO of UKSA, said: “World Boating Day is about celebrating the opportunities that being on the water can create, and it was fantastic to welcome representatives from local businesses, media organisations and the wider Island community to experience that first-hand. Events like this showcase not only the enjoyment, teamwork and challenge that sailing brings, but also the wider opportunities available within the maritime sector. At UKSA, we’re passionate about helping people of all ages and backgrounds discover the water, build confidence, develop skills and access meaningful careers. Bringing people together through experiences like this helps strengthen our maritime community and inspire the next generation to get involved.”
The day began with safety briefings and on-the-water instruction led by UKSA instructors, giving guests the chance to familiarise themselves with the J80 race yachts before heading out onto the water. After a busy morning of teamwork, tactics and learning the ropes, participants enjoyed lunch in the UKSA canteen before returning to the Solent for a two-hour race in glorious sunshine.
Georgina Menheneott, Partner at Burgess, said: “Our partnership with UKSA reflects what World Boating Day is all about: creating opportunities for more people to experience, enjoy and build careers on the water. From first experiences at sea to first professional placements, these pathways can be truly life-changing. It was especially rewarding to hear such positive feedback from participants, with one attendee describing the day as ‘so enjoyable and well run’ and praising the instructors for helping make the experience both engaging and memorable.”
Representing Burgess were Tom Dodd and Alfie Wild. Island Echo’s team featured Darren Toogood, Carl Atkinson-Goffe, James Rann and Mackenzie Whittaker, while the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce team included Richard Winter alongside Carl Joyce, Amber Beard and Lucy Johnson.
Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher of Island Echo, says: “It was a fantastic opportunity to get out on the water and experience first-hand the teamwork and skill involved in sailing on the Solent. We thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competition and cannot thank UKSA enough for the opportunity – they even managed to arrange fantastic weather for us”.
Following an exciting afternoon of close racing, the Isle of Wight Chamber team returned victorious, celebrating in the afternoon sun with a well-earned glass of cava overlooking the marina.
UKSA’s watersports team were fantastic throughout the day’s activities, keeping the racing competitive, fun and safe from start to finish. In true World Boating Day style, the winning Chamber team were even presented with the ultimate prize – a celebratory pack of Gold Bar chocolate biscuits.
Carl Joyce of Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, says: “A big thanks from the Chamber team for a great day out on the water. UKSA’s hospitality, our instructor Kai’s amazing knowledge of the sea and wind, and his super sharp tactics made for a great race and a reminder of just how fortunate we are to live on the Island.”
The event formed part of UKSA’s wider commitment to introducing more people to the water and the wider maritime industry. Alongside professional MCA training, cadetships and further education programmes, UKSA also delivers a wide range of activities for children and young people throughout the year.
Popular options for local families include action-packed watersports fun days, multi-activity school holiday camps and beginner dinghy sailing courses, giving young people the opportunity to get out on the water, make friends, build confidence and learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment. Many local children experience sailing and watersports for the very first time through UKSA’s programmes, with some later progressing into instructor training, further education pathways and careers within the maritime industry.
UKSA continues to welcome young people and adults from across the UK and beyond, offering both residential and non-residential pathways into watersports, yachting, superyachts and professional maritime careers. As a registered charity, UKSA is committed to helping remove barriers to entry through a range of funding opportunities, bursaries and supported training pathways, helping more people gain qualifications, confidence and real-world experience on the water.
Alongside delivering internationally recognised training and education, UKSA remains busier than ever supporting progression into the maritime and leisure industries, while residential students can now also enjoy the newly refurbished Bridge Bar & Café, which officially opened this week as a modern social space at the heart of the campus for students, visitors and industry guests alike.
Event organiser Zoe Brookes, Communications and Social Media Executive at UKSA, is encouraging local businesses, media organisations and maritime industry partners to get involved in next year’s celebrations and help grow the event even further in 2027. Businesses interested in taking part in May 2027 are encouraged to register their interest by contacting marketing@uksa.org.
