'THE ATLANTIC WAS TOUGH, BUT BEING PREPARED SAW US ACROSS

Experienced sailor James Kenning set off across the Atlantic with the ARC rally in November 2024, but a shredded sail, sargassum weed and a cracked rudder made him realise that only by being fully prepared can you prevent an issue from becoming a disaster

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Crossing the Atlantic to cruise the Caribbean was a dream long in the making; my planning was meticulous, so, come the time of my departure on the 2024 ARC+ rally, I was confident that both boat and skipper were as prepared as they could be for the challenge ahead.

I felt suitably qualified to skipper Arkyla, my 2008 Regina 43, down the trade-wind route from the Canaries to Grenada via Cape Verde. A sailor since childhood, I had an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, 15,000+ miles under my belt, and crossings of Biscay and the Atlantic already in my logbook. I was confident, though not complacent, in my abilities to meet the challenges of big seas, tropical weather and ocean navigation. Recognising engineering competency to be as important as sailing skills, I had taken courses on all forms of boat repair and maintenance and was intimate with every system, in every hidden corner of Arkyla.

Significant sums had already been spent to add solar and wind power, upgrade electronics and ground tackle, and replace sails and batteries. Over five years of ownership, lessons had been learned, systems tweaked, and capability gaps identified. For the ARC+, Arkyla was treated to several new toys: a Remoran Wave 3 hydrogenerator to supplement the existing power sources, an Iridium Go! Exec SATCOM system to meet offshore communication requirements, and a Parasailor spinnaker to complement the existing twin-headsail downwind sail plan.

In the months before departure the boat was hauled, stern and rudder glands replaced, the rig checked, running rigging renewed and safety equipment serviced. By mid-October, I was content that neither boat nor skipper could be better prepared.

GENERATOR DOWN