John Falla on his yacht, Banjaard, just before he left for Plymouth where the transatlantic race starts. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0775980)

SAILOR John Falla left Guernsey last night as he set off on his adventure to race across the Atlantic.

The 47-year-old corporate financier set off for Plymouth, from where the 2,900-mile race starts on Monday.

He said he was both excited and nervous by the prospect of attempting the challenge on his own.

‘One has to be totally independent and self-reliant,’ he said of the challenge.

‘The boat has been equipped to make that possible, but should one need help probably the most likely source of that would be from the other competitors. The spirit of the race is that people often pitch up and lend a hand.’

Mr Falla said he spent all of yesterday rushing around making final preparations for the race.

‘There were some technical issues like getting the internet to work that I had to sort out,’ he said.

The longest journey he has previously undertaken was to Portugal.