Burgess X UKSA

In 2024, we formalised a partnership with UKSA (United Kingdom Sailing Academy), the world’s largest RYA training centre, to help support the next generation of seafarers. Based on the Isle of Wight, it aims to inspire, educate, and enable young people to achieve their full potential through residential trips and advanced training programmes. With at least 18 UKSA alumni working at Burgess and many more in our fleet, we know its value.

Over the year, several Burgess staff visited the Cowes campus to mentor cadets, while our crew team undertook a herculean task: 48 interviews in a single day. Three cadets then gained real-world experience crewing Burgess tenders at the Monaco Yacht Show – taking them from the spiritual home of sailing to the capital of yachting in one move.

We’re also proud to support the Founder’s Club and the Sea.Change Foundation (renamed the Maritime Futures Programme for 2025). Through week-long residential courses, Sea.Change delivers water-based adventure training for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, broadening horizons and building resilience. This year, three Burgess team members raised enough to send five young people on a Sea.Change course. These experiences change lives.

‘We decided to raise money and run the Great South Run for UKSA’s Sea.Change Foundation because it’s so important to remove financial and social barriers to water sports and bridge the gap between education and employment. The Sea.Change Foundation’s aim is to introduce individuals from low-income areas to the water and provide access to maritime careers that they may not have had otherwise. 

‘I was lucky enough to be invited over to UKSA for Cowes week and participate in some racing on UKSA’s Farr-65 yacht. It was here I was able to speak and sail with some of the Sea.Change cadets who were crewing for the race and see firsthand their passion for sailing along with their expertise and knowledge – it was incredibly inspiring. Speaking with Ben Willows (UKSA’s CEO) it was clear to see the UKSA’s dedication to creating a centre of excellence for all children no matter their background, to be able to access water-based adventures, education, and training for careers at sea is admirable, impactful, and inspirational.’

Harriet van Hengel, Yacht Management Assistant

UKSA offers a discount to Burgess crew for training, with all paid course fees feeding back into their charitable work – supporting the next generation of seafarers full circle.