Case Studies

Jake Carter

Graduating from UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship in 2023, Jake shares how he has spent his time in the industry as a Deckhand, and his experiences as an openly gay man.

“The same way that women working on deck should not be stigmatised, the maritime industry needs to learn to hire based on how hard people work and their skills, and not to judge based on people’s gender or sexuality.”

“Initially I didn’t know that courses like those that UKSA offer existed until I went to Shuttleworth College. We visited UKSA and attended a talk about our future and the career opportunities in yachting and it really interested me.”

2 years later this experience stayed with Jake and he returned to train with UKSA on the Superyacht Cadetship with his Level 3 Diploma in Outdoor Adventure now obtained. Looking back on his time at UKSA, Jake reflected on the highlights for him.

“The people you meet were a highlight for me. I keep in contact with some of the other cadets and have great friendships with them still. Plus, sharing small spaces with them when we were on our seaphases and learning how to effectively work as a team really helped when I entered the industry.”

“Since graduating from UKSA I have taken on many challenges and opportunities, from boating in Scotland to maintenance periods in France. I am currently a full-time, permanent member of a season experience which sees a lot of guests wanting to experience watersports such as jet-skiing and Efoiling whilst we visit places like Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey and then the Caribbean!”

Reflecting on the years he has spent in the industry since graduating, Jake considered his experience as an openly gay man working on Superyachts. “In my opinion, it Is much harder to be a gay man in the industry. I do believe there is progress and the industry is becoming more open-minded, but it is catching up slowly and is still behind the times.”

Considering how the Superyacht sector could improve, Jake suggested “The same way that women working on deck should not be stigmatised, the maritime industry needs to learn to hire based on how hard people work and their skills, and not to judge based on people’s gender or sexuality.”

We asked Jake if he had anything he would say to someone considering joining UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship or working at sea, “Go for it! Jump headfirst into the deep end and just do it! Be patient though, it has taken me a couple of years to find the boat but for me but there is a vessel out there for everyone. If you aren’t afraid to put in hard work, follow your dreams and go for it!”

Looking to the future, Jake is looking forward to returning to UKSA to complete further training. “I’m hopefully returning to UKSA in November to completely my Efficient Deckhand and GMDSS, on my way to acquiring my Office of the Watch.” We can’t wait to welcome Jake back as he progresses through the industry.

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