Reg Kheraj

Reg Kheraj’s first experience of UKSA was back in 2003, when he visited with his school.

He went on to gain watersports and yachting qualifications with us – leading him onto a fulfilling career in both sectors.
Reg shares his story with us:

“I first came to UKSA in 2003 with my school and then came back in 2005 as part of the Gypsy Moth project, sailing from Gibraltar to Tenerife on Gipsy Moth IV. I then took UKSA’s Professional Instructor Training (PIT) course in 2007 and the Professional Instructor Development (PID) course in 2008. This led onto work at UKSA in watersports during the summers of 2008, 2009 and 2012.

What was the highlight of your time at UKSA as a watersports instructor?

Highlights of that time for me include successfully managing to teach 12 six-year-olds to sail dinghies and working with children suffering from cancer who had come over from Russia.

“The most important thing I learnt during my time at UKSA is that it showed me who I am and what I am capable of.”

What job opportunities did having a Professional Yachtmaster offshore qualification open up?

The next course I did at UKSA was the Professional Yachtmaster Offshore in 2012. Sailing around the Isle of Wight in the snow and taking one of the Farr 65s to over 20 knots on an ocean passage are some of my best memories from that time. Having the Yachtmaster qualification led to a job on a 34-metre motor yacht based out of Viareggio in Italy. The highpoint of my career in the superyacht industry is cruising the Galapagos Islands for three weeks in 2016 with guests, whilst working as First Mate on a 37-metre sailboat.

What was the most important thing you learnt at UKSA?

The most important thing I learnt during my time at UKSA is that it showed me who I am and what I am capable of, and my absolute undying passion for everything sea related! It taught me how to be a leader, how to cope with adverse situations and how to work with people.

If you are thinking of training at UKSA I would say embrace every opportunity and make the most of it! The skills that you will learn whilst training at UKSA will set you up for life, at sea and beyond. The people you train with and meet will become lifelong friends and colleagues who will follow you and turn up at the four corners of the globe.”

For more information on UKSA’s Professional Yachtmaster training, please visit our Professional Yachtmaster course page.
For more information on UKSA’s watersports training, please visit our Watersports Careers page.