Louis Day had long been committed to building a career on the water but, like many, there were financial barriers to overcome to achieve his ambitions. Thanks to the Trinity House RYA Yachtmaster Scholarship, he has gone as far as the Antarctic for his work and keeps sailing on, chasing new horizons.

“I began my career with a 4-year Apprenticeship in Marine Mechanical and Electrical Engineering,” Louis explains. “Alongside this, I worked my way through the RYA skipper and instructor courses.”

Due to his dedication, after four years Louis was qualified not only as a Marine Engineer but also as a skipper and an Advanced Powerboat Instructor. 

Wanting to build further and gain new skills, Louis looked into the other qualifications available to him and considered where they could take him. He knew what he wanted to do but funding his training was an obstacle.

So, during his stint as an Apprentice Marine Engineer, whilst also working as a skipper and an instructor in Southampton, Louis applied for the Trinity House RYA Yachtmaster Scholarship.

“The scholarship funded my Commercially Endorsed RYA/MCA Powerboat Advanced Certificate of Competence, STCW and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore power and sail,” Louis explains. “These courses are expensive and the scholarship allowed me to complete them all within my apprenticeship timeline which set my career up fantastically for when I finished my apprenticeship.” 

“Without the scholarship I would’ve been self-funding these courses,” he adds. “Completing them would’ve taken much longer and involved substantial saving and gaps between courses.”

Having sped up his career thanks to the aid of the scholarship funding, Louis signed up for a thrilling new venture as Lead Boating Officer and Deputy Station Leader for British Antarctic Survey. As part of the British Antarctic Survey, Louis headed off into the high latitudes that only a tiny minority get to experience, trusted with many key responsibilities.

“I ran all British Antarctic small boating operations, was responsible for all boat maintenance, boat training and maritime search and rescue,” says Louis of his time in the Antarctic. “I spent just shy of 900 days living and working on two British Antarctic research stations and compiled over 1000 hours of high latitude commercial boating!”

Never one to keep still, Louis next swapped the icy frozen waters of Antarctica for the glistening turquoise waters of Bermuda. For over a year, he worked for one of Bermuda’s largest Marine Engineering companies as an Engineer and test/delivery Skipper.

And there’s still more to come. Louis’s next adventure begins, when he will join SailGP as a member of their On-Water Operations team and Electrical Technician.

“The scholarship was vital in giving me the foundations required to lead such a varied and adventurous career to date,” says Louis of the amazing career he’s built in boating. “The qualifications and experience gained from the scholarship will continue to lead my career to new and exciting chapters.” 

Craft your own adventure on water – apply today

Want to build an adventurous career just like Louis? Applications for the Trinity House RYA Yachtmaster Scholarship are accepted on a rolling basis, with interviews held every six months. The deadline for the next round of applications is Monday 19 October 2026.

Find out more about the scholarship, eligibility and selection criteria or apply now.