Adventurer's Tiny-Boat Atlantic-Crossing Dream Ends in Tears
Andrew Bedwell's 3-foot boat fills with water almost immediately
Some of you will recall our interview (How Small Can You Go?) in October 2022 with adventurer Andrew Bedwell, who‘d hoped to sail his way into the record books on a 1900-mile Atlantic crossing in a retrofitted version of deceased adventurer (and former record holder) Tom McNally’s 3’ 10” boat, Big C.
We’d lost track of his schedule and launch dates, but according to this article, within hours of his departure Bedwell’s tiny boat began taking on significant amounts of water and he was forced to return to the dock. Bedwell claims the boat was “essentially sunk” by the time they got the boat back and he has scrapped the mission.
You can view Bedwell’s tearful description of events here:
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This news is almost a year old. He’s been working on a “Version 2” ever since.
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In the 1990's the Guinnes Book of Records sailing records were moderated by Knobby Clarke. Anthony Steward sailed an open version of my TLC 19 design around the world, first open boat circumnavigation. Knobby Clarke refused Anthony's voyage as a first because he said that small boat records were becoming ridiculous. That was a 19ft boat and a great achievement. This attempt, however, is supreme folly.