Andrew Bedwell hopes to set a new world record for sailing the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic. His vessel, Big C is just over 1m/3.2ft long. If all goes according to plan he will set off in May 2023 from St Johns, Newfoundland, and finish off Lizard Point in Cornwall.
The smallest boat to cross the Atlantic to date was 5ft 4inches long, sailed by American sailor, Hugo Vihlen in 1993.
Bedwell will not be able to stand up in his boat without opening the hatch. Big C has no bunk so he will nap on a beanbag. A bucket will serve as a toilet.
Yachting Monthly reports that the boat has 12 watertight compartments – eight internally and four externally – as well as open and closable vents. Once fully sealed, Big C only has 40 minutes of air inside before Andrew would pass out.
Big C was designed and built by Liverpudlian sailor Tom McNally, a legend in micro-yachting, who died in 2017 from cancer. McNally set the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic record in 1993 in his 5ft 4.5-inch boat, Vera Hugh. The record was subsequently broken by Hugo Vihlen.
Why?
A masochist for sure.
“Red Bull would back him but the firm declined saying of the challenge it was ‘inspirational, but mad’.”
Red Bull baulked? Yikes!
Short enough to dock easily– there’s that. But with docking only happening every 60 days or more, less of a factor?
This looks badly planned unless some information is missing. It should have a simple snorkel with float valve for air circulation. The saddle tanks worry me, could they be ripped off in a storm and leave holes in the hull, they should have been integrated into the form.
The rig looks incredibly fragile. I wonder how far he will get before needing an expensive rescue.