Caribbean Crew Scholarship: One year on
Caribbean Crew Scholarship: One year on
Published 10 February 2026
Hear from our first candidates about life after the scholarship, and discover how our second cohort are progressing – and where the programme goes next.
In 2024, we launched the Caribbean Crew Scholarship, an initiative to help young Caribbean nationals build careers in the superyacht industry. Developed in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association and Ondeck Sailing, the programme supports 18-25-year-olds with training, certification, mentorship, networking, and career placement through Burgess’ global network.
Building momentum: 2025-26 candidates
From a successful launch in 2024, the Caribbean Crew Scholarship has continued to grow in 2025. Our current candidates, Curtis and Shazeda, have already gained invaluable experience working with our partners UKSA during the Antigua Charter Show and undertaking day work aboard Burgess fleet yachts, including charter favourites ASANI, BARBARA, and SIREN.
Burgess is delighted to announce that following Curtis’ success on board SIREN, he has been offered the position of junior deckhand and will begin in early February.
Hear from SIREN's Captain about Curtis' work and how the Caribbean Crew scholarship has the potential for good across Antigua and the wider region:
'Following a brief period of day work, we engaged Curtis for three weeks during January. He consistently demonstrated commendable qualities, including a strong sense of responsibility, initiative, motivation, and regard for both the crew and guests. I am pleased to inform you that Curtis will join us permanently as a junior deckhand, and we look forward to mentoring this young man to develop his career in the yachting industry.
'Thank you for introducing him to us and for Burgess’ initiative with the Antiguan community. I often wonder how we, as yacht crew, can be more active in these communities. This is a start that will hopefully help develop future individuals who, in time, will have a larger impact on their communities.'
For anyone looking for a temporary or permanent crew member, Shazeda is available and ready for her next opportunity. With strong skills and on board experience, please get in touch if you or anyone you know is looking for interior crew.
We’re also excited to report that The Camber Group is now joining the programme and working with us, the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association, and Ondeck Sailing to create tangible career opportunities for the next generation of maritime talent in the Caribbean.
Long-time friend and partner of Burgess, Camber Group MD Julian Willmott said: 'We are thrilled to come on board for this project and be working with Burgess again. These programmes really matter. This is about more than putting our name to a project and financial sponsorship; it's about creating opportunity, developing skills, and training the next generation of talented Caribbean sailors, as well as giving them access to the industry that we are so fortunate to work in. The more of us who actively get involved, the stronger the programme, and that can only be a good thing!'
Stories from the deck
We caught up with Junella King, one of our first scholarship candidates, on board a yacht in Antigua. She has since gained permanent employment on the high-performance WallyCento sailing yacht V, having started on their support yacht and now working as part of the race crew.
We talked all things sailing, how she got onto the programme, and what life’s been like for her since.
What first drew you to yachting, and why did the Caribbean Crew Scholarship feel like the right path for you?
My background is sailing, but I’ve always been interested in trying motor yachts too. Luckily, what I’m doing now allows me to do both. What made me sign up for the scholarship was Karl James [sailing coach, two-time Olympian, and President of the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association]; he came to me asking if I’d be interested, which was well timed as I was already thinking about getting into it.
What was the application and training process like?
The application process was super easy, as was the training process. I had most of my qualifications already which really helped, so the only thing I had to do was my ENG 1 [a required medical certificate] and a safety course.
How did you find the scholarship experience overall?
It’s been good, I can’t complain! I’ve always been curious about superyachting but never wanted to completely give up sailing, so that made this programme fit just perfectly. And Burgess has been incredibly helpful with me transitioning which I am grateful for.
Since completing the scholarship, what’s been your biggest achievement or milestone so far?
It’s still early, but I would say the biggest milestone so far has been joining my current programme as it allows me to work across both sailing and motor vessels, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I do enjoy that, because I missed the sailing part when I was exclusively working on motor vessels.
Your background is on sailing yachts. How have you found working on board a superyacht – has it been what you expected?
I didn’t really know what to expect! Superyachts are definitely different from sailing boats, which is what I’m used to, but not actually in any ways that make it more difficult. Everything is much easier with motor yachts.
What advice would you give to future scholarship applicants or anyone thinking about a career in yachting?
Go for it! Just send in the application and see what happens. There’s really nothing to lose by signing up for the scholarship – it opens doors and lets you see where the industry could take you.
Get involved
The opportunity is open to all in the yachting industry – from yacht owners and crew to training partners and supporters.
To find out more, to apply for a scholarship, or if you are interested in helping one of our candidates get their next step in the industry, please get in touch. Join us in our efforts to create a pathway into yachting for more young sailors who lack access and opportunity.
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