Overview

The Isle of Wight

School trips to UKSA on the Isle of Wight – With 35 years of experience, UKSA is a maritime youth charity with a vision to inspire and support young people to broaden their horizons through life-enhancing water-based adventures, education, and pathways for training for careers at sea.

Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UKSA’s large 4-acre base is perfectly situated to deliver fun-packed watersports and team-building programmes. With everything you need onsite, UKSA offers fun, safe, and engaging experiences ensuring everyone has a great time.

Programmes are tailored to your aspirations and young people’s needs. Residential trips are suitable for all – year 6 transition breaks, team building visits or career insights. Activities include dinghy sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, team building and raft building. Evening activities are also included. 

UKSA welcome individuals with special educational and disabled needs, all on and off the water activities are adaptable and inclusive. We are accessible with disabled access and suitably adapted accommodation blocks with flexible bedrooms.

A 5-day, 4-night residential trip could include the following activities. 

Day 1

Ferry travel will bring you across the Solent from Southampton to East Cowes. Our friendly team will meet you as you disembark, children will be safely chaperoned on a short walk to our base in Cowes whilst our minibuses will transport luggage securely to UKSA. Alternatively, private travel can be arranged from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth direct to our pontoons. 

Upon arrival you’ll make your way to your accommodation block for a welcome and tour of site as we kick-start your residential adventure. After lunch we’ll get you into wetsuits and buoyancy aids for a water confidence session to introduce you to the water. Students will build rafts and have fun racing them against their classmates.  

Our onsite canteen will serve up a hot, homely dinner with lots of choice for all. Evening meals always feature fresh vegetables and a salad bar, with options for the main course including vegetarian and vegan.  Activities every evening can include team games by the sea, crabbing, water polo in our indoor pool, gutter boat racing, disco, quiz night and more. These sessions finish at 9pm, followed by bedtime and lights out.

Day 2

For breakfast there is a Full English option, as well as cereals, yoghurts and fruit, students can eat as much as they like – a great way to set you up for a day on the water! 

The morning will be spent learning to dinghy sail in our sheltered training areas with tuition at a 6 to 1 student to instructor ratio. 

Lunch is a freshly-prepared packed lunch – perfect for when you are on the go!

An afternoon of Stand up Paddleboarding in flat water conditions will see confidence levels rise with everyone enjoying the sense of independence this watersport activity brings. 

Day 3

The morning session will include keelboating, followed by an afternoon of windsurfing. 

Larger than a dinghy, but smaller than a yacht, keelboats are ideal for small groups to get out on the water and learn the basics of sailing. Keelboat sailing is the perfect way to develop soft skills and encourage teamwork, as everyone in the group is given a role onboard.

We know the best spots along the Isle of Wight coastline to learn how to master the basics of the popular watersports activity windsurfing – you’ll soon be enjoying the thrill of moving across the water by mastering your board and sail.

Day 4

Your morning will be spent mastering the basics of kayaking, using a double-bladed paddle to move you over the water. After lunch you will get the chance to hone your dinghy sailing skills by using the elements to power your dinghy and come back to base feeling exhilarated and ready for a hot dinner. 

Day 5

Your last session before departing UKSA after lunch will be orienteering. Using a map and compass, you will navigate between checkpoints, decide on the best route, and then make it there without getting lost.

What’s included?

• Return ferry to the Isle of Wight
• Day and evening programmes
• Tuition and equipment
• Full board
• Sole occupancy of dormitory-style rooms 
• Separate leaders rooms within the block
• For every 10 students, there is a leaders place free of charge
• Risk assessments for all of our day and evening activities, as well as for all of our sites used