Last Friday June 8, Princess Anne launched the UKSA’s new training program at their base in Cowes. The initiative is a combined three year Yachting Cadetship and Foundation Degree (FdSc Operational Yacht Science) which will provide a vocational career path for young people hoping to enter the commercial yachting industry.

The program has been created in response to an international shortage of trained professional mariners in commercial yachting. After completing the course, students who want to get a full BSc (Hons) degree in Marine Studies (Ocean Yachting), can attend Plymouth University for a further study year.

Jon Ely, the UKSA’s Chief Executive said: ‘We have developed the Foundation Degree programme with Falmouth Marine School and the University of Plymouth.’ More information about the training program can be found by clicking here.

During her visit to the UKSA the Princess also stepped aboard Gipsy Moth IV, recently returned from her round the world voyage. She met the project team, including skippers Richard Baggett and John Jeffrey, John Walsh, who managed the re-fit at Camper & Nicholson’s in Gosport, and project founder Paul Gelder, editor of YM.