An adventurous British dad’s dream of crossing the Atlantic from Canada to Cornwall in a homemade 3ft yacht has ended in heartbreak after the ship hit the water and was destroyed while still in the dock.
Andrew Bedwell planned a 3,000-mile journey from Newfoundland, Canada, to Falmouth, Cornwall, in his three-foot by 10-foot fiberglass yacht called Big C — which would have become the smallest boat ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean .
However, after being forced to return to the country over the weekend shortly after leaving Canada, the 49-year-old burst into tears and has officially called off the ambitious trip altogether.
Announcing the devastating update in a video entitled ‘The end of a dream’, Mr Bedwell from Scarisbrick, Lancashire said: ‘Hello everyone. First of all, I’m so sorry. Yesterday we had a difficult problem. We came back to the harbor and the boat had almost sunk.
‘Because she was full of water, we had to lift her out by her frame instead of putting oars under the boat.
Andrew Bedwell (pictured), 49, has to cancel his trip across the Atlantic after the 3ft vessel started taking on water
The destroyed yacht – named Big C – was 3.5 meters long and had a top speed of 4 km/h.
He explained that as they lifted Big C, problems were caused by “a half or three quarters of a ton of water,” which ended in the frame failing.
“She fell to the harbor side and basically destroyed the boat,” he added.
“I don’t know what to say to everyone who supported me, helped, you were all amazing. Big C is no more. She can’t go on. I can’t, I’m sorry.’
Mr Bedwell, who works as a yacht and sail maker, had said yesterday that after the boat started taking on water there were plans to make modifications and relaunch the vessel, which took three years to build and has a top speed of two-and-one. one and a half kilometers per hour.
The father of a ten-year-old daughter Poppy planned to arrive off the coast of Cornwall at the end of August.
Within hours of his heartbreaking video going online, his JustGiving page was also taken down. He had raised money for cancer charities in memory of his father, mother and friend.
Mr. Bedwell has spent his career making sails and supplying yachts all over the world. He even has previous experience as a proven sailor having previously navigated Britain and traveled to the frozen reaches of the Arctic Circle.
Before his aborted voyage, the sailor said, “You never know, you could hit an iceberg. The Titanic was considered unsinkable, but it hit one and there are many icebergs.
Mr Bedwell posted a heartbreaking video of him canceling the trip. He captioned it: ‘The end of a dream’
Mr. Bedwell planned to survive on vitamin-based drinks and food pouches made from beef jerky, raisins, and fat
The sailor spent three years hand-building his incredible fiberglass microyacht, which has now been destroyed
“But I wanted a big challenge before I’m 50 — and I’m taking on a huge challenge in a small craft.”
He said his “greatest fear” was probably a storm in his small craft.
He said, “When you get caught in a storm, you strike and hope for the best.
‘You have ships that are also in the storm and they don’t always look out for you. That’s probably my biggest fear.’
The distraught father had designed his boat to be able to carry supplies to fuel him – which included forming food supplies of beef jerky, raisins and vitamin potions in the walls of his cabin. He also planned to bring only one change of clothes.
To maintain the fresh water supply, he had installed a desalination plant to remove salt from sea water, making it drinkable.
Joking about what it would have been like at sea in such conditions, he said it would be like being ‘trapped in a wheelie bin for 90 days, on a rollercoaster’.
Mr. Bedwell added, “My only luxury item will be a washcloth, and it will be suitable for anything.”
Mr. Bedwell planned to sail from Newfoundland, Canada, to Falmouth, Cornwall
The sailor (pictured yesterday) compared the boat to ‘being stuck in a garbage can on a roller coaster for 90 days’
Doctors had warned Mr. Bedwell prior to his trip that he might have to learn to walk again when he returned home
Within hours of his heartbreaking video being posted online, Mr. Bedwell’s Just Giving page was also taken offline
Mr. Bedwell, a sailmaker and seasoned sailor, worked on the little boat from the start
He hoped that his boat would become the smallest ship ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean
Doctors had warned Mr Bedwell prior to his journey that he might have had to learn to walk again when he arrived hopeful due to the lack of movement and being able to stand upright only in calm seas.
He previously said: ‘When I come back, the question is how easily I will be able to walk. So I’ll have to be careful with my legs.’
Although Mr Bedwell disabled comments on his video of him canceling the trip, messages of support poured into his Facebook account.
One user said, “I’m so sorry. Big dreams mean big challenges. I wish you the best.’
A second added, “Sad to hear what happened, but most importantly, glad to hear you’re okay!”
And a third commented: ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it. Get some rest, maybe get away for a few days and regroup. You have not promised anyone anything but yourself. Continue.’