Scholarships handed out

The UK Sailing Academy award scholarships to three young people inspired by maritime hero Sir Francis Chichester

On Friday 17 March 2006, the first UKSA Chichester Scholarships were awarded to three deserving young people who were selected by the UKSA’s board of Trustees and Management Team to receive training that will enable them to pursue careers in the Marine Industry. Amie Mayers from Peckham, Anthony Palmer from Portsmouth and Sam Attrill from the Isle of Wight were presented with their scholarships by the son of Sir Francis Chichester, Giles Chichester MEP.

The presentation took place at the home and office of Giles Chichester MEP amongst the family’s private collection of memorabilia including original charts and paintings form Sir Francis Chichester’s record breaking round the world voyage in 1966-67. The young Scholars were given a tour of the Chichester’s map making business and were shown charts from Sir Francis Chichester’s record breaking circumnavigation in 1966-67.

The UKSA Chichester Scholarship Scheme was launched by the UKSA Trustees in September 2005 with the aim of raising £500,000 per annum to be allocated to suitably deserving cases, enabling a number of young people, who otherwise could not have afforded to do so to attend UKSA professional yacht training courses. The Lister Charitable Trust made a founding donation of £50,000 to the scheme and considerable interest in donating to the UKSA Chichester Scholarships has been shown by the marine industry, charitable organisations and individuals.

The UKSA Chichester Scholars will not only receive comprehensive training and qualifications through the UKSA’s PCST, Ocean Graduate or Cadetship courses; they will also benefit from the UKSA careers advice and contacts to help them find well paid jobs in the yachting industry.

Amie Mayers aged 15 from Peckham will attend the UKSA later this year to complete a Professional Instructor Training course. The course will equip her with the qualifications and knowledge required to teach dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking in some of the most glamorous locations in the world. Amie was made aware of the UKSA Chichester Scholarships when she attended the Gipsy Moth IV re-dedication ceremony in Greenwich last September and was inspired to apply for the scholarship after her experience aboard Gipsy Moth IV, sailing between Antigua and Barbados.

Anthony Palmer aged 15 from Portsmouth will also complete a UKSA Professional Instructor Training course later this year. Anthony sailed across the Atlantic aboard Gipsy Moth IV and the experience had a huge impact on his life. Prior to the transatlantic, Anthony was no longer attending school and had little or no aspirations for a future career. His experience on board Gipsy Moth IV made him realise that sailing was something he could make a career out of and he was encouraged to apply for a scholarship by the yacht’s skipper, Richard Baggett. Anthony attended the London Boat Show in January 2006 and took part in a live link with the yacht and spoke to an audience of hundreds, something he would have never considered doing prior to his Gipsy Moth IV experience.

Sam Attrill aged 16 from St Helens on the Isle of Wight will complete an Ocean Graduate Course at the UKSA. The training will provide him with the necessary qualifications and knowledge to work on some of the most prestigious yachts around the world. Sam’s family have run a traditional boatbuilding yard in Bembridge for generations so he has a great knowledge of boat maintenance and sailing due to helping out in the yard from an early age. Unfortunately, due to the reduction in demand for the traditional skills offered by the family business Sam does not see a long term career opportunity in the family business. Completing an Ocean Graduate course will enable him to build and develop his passion for the sea and maybe one day set up his own company utilising the skills learned.

David Green, CEO of the UKSA said, “I am absolutely delighted to take young people into this industry who otherwise wouldn’t have stood the chance or the opportunity of doing so. The UKSA Chichester Scholarship Scheme is something that the UKSA have wanted to launch for a long time but thanks to the Lister Charitable Trust now have the funds to award the first few places. I wish the first three scholars every luck as they embark on their training at the UKSA and look forward to charting their progress.”

Giles Chichester MEP said, “My father is an example to us all that almost anything is possible in life, in fact the whole of his life is an example of achievement and setback and overcoming difficulties and that is one of the messages for the young people to take out of this sailing adventure they are to embark on. Sailing is a fantastic sport and something that makes you feel more alive, more aware of your surroundings, provides you with more appreciation for the environment and also makes you appreciate your achievements. I am proud that my father’s legacy lives on in providing young people with the opportunity to build careers in the marine industry."