A UK father’s ambitious voyage across the Atlantic in a homemade yacht has ended as soon as it began as the “wheelie bin” vessel sank in a Canadian harbour.
As MailOnline reports, 49-year-old Andrew Bedwell had intended to sail 1,900 miles from Newfoundland to Falmouth on a tiny fibreglass boat only a metre wide.
No novice when it comes to the art of boatbuilding — given that he works as a yacht and sailmaker — experienced sailor Bedwell spent three years hand-building the boat he named Big C in honour of his friend and co-designer, the late Tom McNally.
Bedwell had hoped to reach a point within 50 miles of the West of Ireland to take the record for the furthest crossing of the Atlantic in the shortest boat.
But disaster struck shortly after setting off when he was forced to return to dock as the boat sunk — then was destroyed when a salvage operation failed.
Commenting on social media, Bedwell explained: “We set off, but on the first day I noticed a small leak. Better to be safe I turned back to check it out. Overnight the boat took on more water and when we lifted her out the roaps snapped, the boat fell which caused masses of damage to the boat. I am beyond devastated. I hoped to drain her, fix it and then either carry on or return her to the UK for a future date. Sadly none of that is now possible.
“There are so many people who have helped me, sponsored me and cheered me on and I feel so awful — I feel I have let you all down.”
Had the voyage gone ahead, Bedwell would have been raising funds for cancer charities while sailing his micro-yacht like being “stuck in a wheelie bin, on a rollercoaster for 90 days”.
