College Catch Up: Dan Holburn

While most of his friends were choosing A-Levels or university, Dan charted a different course—one filled with ropes, salt spray, and the occasional jet-set passenger. Now, with his sights set on becoming an Officer of the Watch, he’s proof that sometimes the best classrooms don’t have four walls at all.

After finishing his time at Rockley College, Dan Holborn wasted no time pursuing his dream of a life at sea. He enrolled at UKSA on the Isle of Wight to start a cadetship in the superyacht industry, completed his first year of training, and secured his first job as a deckhand aboard a 35-metre high-speed vessel. It’s a demanding role, but one that Dan is thriving in as he works towards his long-term goal of qualifying as an Officer of the Watch over the next few years.

Dan says it was his time at Rockley that helped him realise a traditional classroom wasn’t the only way to learn or succeed. “I was never great in the classroom,” he admits. “Rockley allowed me to learn outdoors and practically, which suited me much better.” More than that, the course opened his eyes to a whole new world. “They introduced me to the yachting industry. I’d never considered it before, but now it’s my career.” Choosing Rockley over A-Levels or university provided Dan with a different kind of education, one focused on real-world experiences, hands-on learning, and building confidence in an active, outdoor environment.

Now working full-time at sea, Dan finds himself constantly drawing on the skills he learned during his college days. “Knots and line handling are essential day-to-day, but it’s the leadership and communication skills that really matter,” he says. “Everyone has to work together on board to keep the vessel running smoothly.”

Coursework wasn’t always easy, and Dan admits to feeling overwhelmed at times. But with support from his tutors, he developed strategies to manage it. “I learned to get as much done in class as possible and not leave things to the last minute. The staff were always there to help, whether it was college work or life in general.”

Among all the training and qualifications, it was the extra experiences that left a lasting impression. “The two-day, 50km walk we did as a group really stands out. We had to navigate, cook for ourselves, and camp out, it was a proper challenge, but such good fun,” Dan recalls.

That kind of experience helped him develop resilience and teamwork, qualities that continue to serve him in the high-pressure, close-quarters environment of a yacht. He’s even found time to keep using his watersports qualifications, teaching at his local yacht club whenever he’s back home.