Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - February 2020

Multinational Youth
Team Crosses Atlantic
A crew of young sailors from St. Lucia, Gran Canaria and the UK sailed into
Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, aboard the yacht Challenger 1 on December 12th, 2019, having
crossed the Atlantic from the island of Gran Canaria, leaving on November 24th
as part of the 2019 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). This was the first time in ARC
history that a young team representing the rally’s start and finish islands, as well as
the home country of ARC organizer World Cruising Club, took part in the event.
They sailed with Skipper Gary Rutherford, Mate Sam Morley and Watchleaders
Anna Jakob and Alex Monaghan, from the UK sailing charity the Tall Ships Youth
Trust. Tall Ships Youth Trust, the UK’s oldest sail-training charity, are specialists in
bringing young people together for a unique, physically and mentally challenging
residential experience on an ocean sailing vessel. Professional skipper Gary, age 27,
has sailed with the past three editions of the ARC.
Gary noted that it was the first time ever that Challenger had a crew for the ARC
that was all under the age of 30, and Alex adds, “Everyone being from different cultures
made it especially interesting. The Lucians introduced us to fish broth!”
february 2020 CARIBBEAN COMPAss pAGE 18
WCC / CLARE PENGELLY
After 17 days at sea, the ARC Youth Team on
arrival at Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia.
The media, family and friends thronged the
dock to greet the youth team’s arrival.
The experience was a once in a lifetime
opportunity for the crew, all aged from 18
to 30, to compete in the world’s largest
transocean sailing rally. Many had never
sailed offshore prior to spending 17 days at
sea on a 67-foot yacht, sailing non-stop for
a distance of over 3,000 nautical miles. The
crew pulled together to keep the boat sailing
night and day and reached a top speed
of 15 knots surfing downwind. The watch system on board, six hours on and six
off during the day, and four hours on and four off at night, was perhaps the biggest
challenge for the young crew to adapt to.
The crewmembers from the UK were Hugo O’Kelly and Lucas Prichard-Jones, both
18 years old.
From Gran Canaria were Enrique Diez Fernandez (22), Ada Garcia-Ferrandez
Saavedra (19), Michele Garcia (24), and Ariana Lorenzo Zambrano (30).
Crewmembers from St. Lucia were Adonai Modeste, Neil Melius, Krishna Joseph,
Gabie Chreiki, Crisanki Flood, and Tyrus Antoine.
Adonai, age 19, is an avid sailor with the St. Lucia Yacht Club and was supported
by SLYC and IGY Rodney Bay Marina, encouraging his dreams of becoming a charter
boat captain. Sean Deveaux, General Manager of IGY Rodney Bay Marina, tells
Compass, “Andrew Bishop of ARC organizer World Cruising Club reached out with
the idea of a youth team and IGY wanted to participate. The marina and all its tenants
got together to sponsor Adonai. It was such a special moment for all of us to
welcome his arrival!”
Neil earned his sea legs as a fisherman but has now set his sights on better serving
the visiting yachts of Soufriere. At 26, he is president of the newly formed
Soufriere Yacht Service Association. World Cruising Club selected Neil to benefit
from their sponsorship, as he is an ambitious individual with a great long-term
vision for nautical tourism in the Caribbean. Neil tells Compass that having sailed
across the Atlantic, he now has a much better understanding of the sailors who visit
his home port.
Krishna, 21, from the village of Anse La Raye, dreams of being one of the first
female yacht skippers in St. Lucia. She was sponsored by Spinnakers Restaurant.
Gabie, 23, took part to further her passion for travel and hopes of working as a
stewardess on luxury yachts in the future. Her father financed her place through the
family business, Taxi Sportswear.
Crisanki, 21, is the youngest member of the watersports team at BodyHoliday St.
Lucia resort. He was chosen for the ARC Youth Team to expand his skills and knowledge
for a future in the marine tourism industry.
Tyrus, 20, didn’t have much pervious sailing experience, but enrolled in the Jus’
Sail training programme to gain basic knowledge before the voyage. James Crockett,
Managing Director of Jus’ Sail, was instrumental in bringing the St. Lucia segment
of the Youth Team together, helping in the search for applicants and even taking the
sailors out for a night sail before the crossing, something most of them had never
experienced. “Helping this team is one of the things I’m most proud of,” he says.
Three different members of World Cruising Club told Compass that Youth Team
members said that crossing the Atlantic under sail changed the course of their lives,
and Watchleader Alex remarked, “Quite a few of this crew might go on to do even
more challenging stuff.”
Krishna, working further toward her goal of being a captain, has already joined the
Jus’Sail charter crew for this busy season.
sally erdle