UKSA in Cowes (previously called UK Sailing Academy) is a youth charity offering professional maritime training opportunities, youth development programs and school/ group residential trips. The charity was founded in 1987 by MFI entrepreneur Noel Lister. He purchased a Sports Council building with the intention of giving young people the opportunity to experience adventurous maritime activities. Since then UKSA has expanded now owning multiple buildings housing a wide range of facilities which are used to provide a wide range of maritime related actives, professional training and asset in support their charitable works. UKSA currently accepts over 8000 students a year of which 80% are under to age of 25 offering these students over 150 courses to choose from. HRH The Princess Royal became Patron of UKSA in 1992. Dee Caffari (MBE), Helena Lucas (MBE), Sarah Ayton (OBE), and Shirley Robertson (OBE) are all Ambassadors for the charity. Today UKSA's work is split into four main areas: Professional training courses for maritime employment. Non-standard education for schools and groups. Youth development and enrichment programmes Providing maritime courses for leisure application. Career courses UKSA began teaching watersports career courses in 1990 and yachting career courses in 1993 as a way for people from all backgrounds and circumstances to be able to get the right qualifications for a career in the maritime industry. Watersports UKSA offers wide range of waterspouts careers course which aim to train students in various disciplines to make them an effective water-sports instructor. These include course are divided into six different programs: Waterports Instructor Training (also known as WIT), Watersports Academy, Neilson Academy, "Kickstart", Summer Instructors Training and the Instructors Development Program. These course offer slightly different pathways but all aim at providing the training and qualifications required to succeed and find a career in the watersports industry. Yachting The first yachting course taught at UKSA was Professional Crew Training developed by Noel Lister and his team. This developed into Professional Crew and Skipper training and then in 1998 into Caribbean Ocean Training. By 2001 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) introduced new superyacht regulations so yachting career courses were moved in line with this. Superyachting and MCA training In 2001 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) introduced new superyacht regulations so yachting career courses were moved in line with this. By 2003 engineering courses were offered as an alternative career option. Hospitality courses also began in 2003. UKSA