The boat, Skipper, and Ensign

Arkyla

Arkyla is a Swedish-built 2008 Regina 43 raised deck saloon: hull number 40 of 45, and one of the last to be launched by Regina Yachts, originally based on the island of Vindö and no longer in business.

I bought her in 2018 and refitted her for true blue-water cruising.

Being Solent-rigged, she is easy to handle short-handed or even solo: a self-tacking jib sets on the inner stay, while the main forestay has two identical genoas permanently rigged, which can be used one atop the other for reaching, or poled out wing-on-wing for downwind passage making. The original fully vertical-battened furling mainsail, which always seemed to jam at the most inopportune time, has been replaced with a short vertical-battened furling sail.

Although her mark is '43', stem to stern she is actually 45'6''. She has a master and one guest cabin, a raised saloon and a lower snug.

The Technical pages detail her fit-out and the refit work.

The Ensign

RAF Sailing Association

The Colours: We have the honour to fly the defaced blue ensign of the Royal Air Force Sailing Association (RAFSA). This is unique amongst the family of UK Blue Ensigns as it is the only flag to be light blue rather than the traditional navy. Not to be confused with the Blue Ensign of the RAF Yacht Club situated on the Hamble (dark blue and defaced with only the eagle and crown, not the roundel), the RAFSA ensign may only be flown by former or serving members of the RAF (or members of other the Services if they have served with an RAF unit).

James Kenning

I have sailed since childhood and hold the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification. I have made three Atlantic crossings and logged more than 20,000 nautical miles, including skippering Arkyla from the UK south coast across Biscay, down the Portuguese coast, into the Mediterranean and over to the Caribbean, and returning her to the UK in 2026 via the Azores.

The logs and photographs from those passages have won accolades from the Cruising Association, the World Cruising Club and the International Cruisers Awards, and my articles and pictures appear in Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Practical Boat Owner, Cruising, and Latitudes & Attitudes magazines (see In the Press). In 2026, I published my first book, Reading the Sea, a philosophy on authentic sailing photography.

Away from the water my passion lies in photographing the wildlife of the world; I try to mix my passion with voluntary conservation work across the continents. See more at jameskenning.com.

Awards

• The Cruising AssociationPhoto of the Year 2024/2022, Runner Up 2023
• The Cruising AssociationHanson Trophy (Best log of Year) 2024/2022
• The Cruising AssociationLacey Trophy (Best Website) 2023
• The Cruising AssociationDolphin Cup (Best Photo Log) 2021
• World Cruising ClubARC+ Best Photo Blog - 2024/2022
• World Cruising ClubARC/ARC+ Best Photo 2022
• International Cruisers AwardsPhoto of the Year 2023
• National Historic ShipsCalendar Entry 2022
• National Historic ShipsPhoto Competition shortlisted finalist 2022/2021
• Chatham Historic DockyardPhoto Exhibitor 2023/2022
• Expedition Travel GroupPhoto of the Year 2019
• Yachting World & Yachting MonthlyMagazine photo and article contributor