Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2014 | Page 47

INTERVIEW

A chance for
all to enjoy
life at sea
with UKSA
By Peter White

E

ach year nearly 2,000 Island
youngsters are reaping the
benefits of the tremendous
facilities offered by Cowes-based
charity UKSA.
Whether it’s taking the first tentative
steps to sailing a small dinghy, or being
part of a team on board a 65ft yacht in
the Solent, UKSA is able to provide expert
tuition, and many of those who pass
through their gates are eventually moving
into careers with the marine industry.
I called into UKSA to be given an insight
into the array of opportunities on offer,
and to talk to Richard Thornton (pictured
above), who became Chief Executive
Officer of the charity last year. Richard
explained that UKSA works with some
9,000 people each year - around 20 per
cent of them from the Island, and most
of the remainder from the south coast,

stretching up to London and beyond.
It has been running for more than 25
years, with Richard pointing out: “Prior
to UKSA, the site in Cowes was the home
of the National Sailing School, which

was closed in 1987. It was then bought by
Noel Lister, a serial entrepreneur who was
absolutely passionate about the sea, and
that channels into where we are today
because we belie fRF