March 10, 2026
The Seafarers' Charity recognises next generation of seafarers at UK Sailing Academy
In early March our Chair, Paul Butterworth, visited the UK Sailing Academy on the Isle of Wight to attend their Superyacht Cadetship graduation.
For almost 40 years, UKSA has been delivering education and training programmes to thousands of students. Its maritime pathway provides taster programmes for school children, career training for those looking to secure their first role, and continued professional development for seafarers wanting to progress their career.
Based in Cowes, UKSA staff recognise the importance of building resilience, confidence, and taking care of students’ well-being. Many cadets come from disadvantaged backgrounds or face challenges such as financial hardship, mental health struggles, or learning barriers.
The Seafarers’ Charity has been proud to support their cadetship programme for 14 years, and awards an annual ‘Top Cadet’ prize. This year the winner was Dougie Maciver, who successfully followed in the footsteps of his two brothers on the cadetship course.
This year, three quarters of the UKSA’s cadets received generous funding from various partners to make their training possible. Along with The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, The Seafarers’ Charity was able to support six cadets in the 2025 intake.
