As we focus on youths for our 101st Antigua's Yachting Insider, 18 year old Rhone Kirby has set sail on his very first Transatlantic crossing.
Last time we saw Rhone he was experiencing another great moment in his young life when not only did he get to race on TP52 Gladiator in Antigua Sailing Week, but got some one on one time with Volvo Ocean Race winner Ian Walker.
If you missed it check out his moment.
And right now he is in the Azores having begun his next adventure on board 67 foot discovery Challenger. Of his trip so far he announced on Facebook, ‘It’s always good to be on land again, happy as ever... seeing waves that are 20ft high and the wind gusting up to 50 knots, Lord it’s fun, but it’s dangerous.’ He went on to say, ‘Just before the bad weather it was calm flat seas and I went swimming in the ocean hunting for shots (he says bravely)’.
(Left to right) Rhone with tuna catch and Captain Andrew
Along the way himself and Captain Andrew along with the other three crew are catching their food as they go, above with a just caught tuna for dinner. He is now in the Azores resting and touring before continuing on in the next leg of the journey.
He learnt his craft as the Antigua Yacht Club and also has worked at the National Sailing Academy and is one of the youths now looking to raise funds to allow him to go to the Olympics in 2020. A long hard road but he has made the commitment. Of sailing he says the one man who would be proud of him is Jamarly Meade, a young sailor who died suddenly a few years ago, but made a big impact on Rhone, not least because it was Jamarly that Rhone credits for teaching him to sail.
We wish him well and are delighted to see the next generation of Antiguan sailors are off on their first big adventures, the first we are sure of many.
