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Sail Away With Jenny and James Kenning

This month, we caught up with Jenny and James Kenning, @sailingarkyla, a couple on their sailing adventure together exploring the world on their boat, Arkyla. This lovely couple share the same passion for the sea and a sailing trip as we do here at Nautica, and they kindly took the time to share with us their experiences at sea and great ideas of what to wear sailing! This month, we sail away with Jenny and James, talking about sailing attire, their adventures and life on the sea!

How would you describe your sailing outfits?

Jenny:  I like to have different items to hand to be able to layer up (or take off!) according to the weather whilst also retaining a sense of style at the same time.  This hasn’t been easy in the past, as a lot of sailing wear is made for larger men, and not petite women!  Brands like Nautica which make clothes for women down to a size 6 are therefore great for me. 

James:  Classic meets functional with a mix of shabby and chic depending on location and/or occasion.

 We love these sailing clothes, versatile and stylish but comfortable. Perfect sailing gear in our opinion!

What made you choose your Nautica pieces?

Jenny:

Adira Chino Short in Dark Navy:  A pair of classic navy shorts can be dressed up or down – good with a T-shirt or with a nice linen shirt.  These are a good length for me as they are not too long in the leg.

Munro Cropped T-Shirt:  The wider stripe on this T-shirt along with the shorter length makes gives this T-shirt a more modern look than the traditional Breton.  I love that it is 100% cotton. 

James:

Rowan Chino Short in Dark Blue:  Multi-functional for those sunny sailing days, but still smart enough for an evening in the bar or restaurant. 

Malik Short Sleeved Shirt in Pale Blush:  Just like the shorts… versatile for either the cockpit or onshore. 

We hope you love your picks! They will be true essential items to your sailing clothing collection! Perfect for all weather conditions, hopefully, your new sailing outfits will be perfect for out at sea!

What’s your favourite item to wear sailing?

Jenny:  A good pair of shorts in navy or white, a stylish cotton T-shirt or a linen blouse, and of course a bikini underneath…. 

James:  It all depends on where we are in terms of ocean, sea or coast, but with the boat currently based in the Algarve it’s shirt and shorts in which I can comfortably sail the boat before stepping straight into a restaurant without looking too ‘salty’. 

What made you get into the sailing life?

Jenny:  There is something magical about being on the water.  It may not always be sunshine and calm with dolphins surfing the bow of the yacht, but it is always life-affirming. 

James:  I raced dinghies in my childhood, but then sailing slipped when I went to university.  Toward the end of the military days, the wife told me to take it up again… I had no choice!

Where is your favourite place you’ve travelled to?

Jenny:  Antarctica – we were very lucky to go on the trip of a lifetime where we kayaked amongst pristine icebergs, saw thousands of penguins, and were treated to incredible shows of light.  We haven’t sailed there yet, but maybe someday! 

James:  It’s hard to pick any one place from the 100+ countries over seven continents I’ve travelled to but as long as there is wildlife, and I have my camera to hand, I’m happy.

A sailing holiday to Antarctica sounds truly amazing, and we hope you do one day!  

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get into sailing?

Jenny:  There are many options for starting sailing; you may be able to learn to sail small sail dinghies at your local lake or, if you want to try cruising with the family, try some of the companies that have flotillas for complete beginners.  You could start, like I did, by doing a Competent Crew qualification with the RYA to give you some knowledge of the basics of sailing.

James:  Test the waters and discover what type of sailing suits you (and your partner) best before making a potentially huge financial mistake.  Many YouTube sailing channels concentrate on the sunsets, cocktails and dolphins… we have storms and breakages to deal with too!

 How long have you sailed for? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do as a couple?

Jenny:  Having been brought up with motorboats I finally did my Competent Crew qualification in Australia in 2003.  Not long after I met James, and once we were married, we started to charter yachts and sail in the Med and Caribbean.  We realised our dream to have our own bluewater yacht in 2018 and, having chased the sunshine south from the UK this year, are now loving exploring the Portuguese Algarve for a season. 

James:  Not counting the dinghy years, I’ve been sailing yachts for just short of 20 years; I got my RYA Yachtmaster Offshore ticket in 2006 when I retired from the RAF.  This year I’ve completed my first Biscay crossing and will be taking on the Atlantic in November – there’s always a new challenge and you never stop learning!

 

We would love to say a big thank you to James and Jenny for taking part in our Sail Away piece this month. It was a real pleasure to hear about your sailing trip adventures and your sailing outfit options! We hope you continue to enjoy your trips together at sea!

Be sure to follow their Instagram @sailingarkyla to get all the updates on their sailing holidays.

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