A sailor whose mission to cross the Atlantic in the smallest ship ever failed when it sank on the first day says he feels he has “let people down”.
Andrew Bedwell, 49, spent three years building the 12-foot vessel in his garage in Lancashire, but returned to land after it began to leak on the Canadian coast.
The ship, named the Big C and with a top speed of just 2.5 mph, then sank in the harbor, dashing their hopes to fix it and try again in the future.
Andrew began his voyage from Newfoundland on May 28, but decided to return to port for safety reasons after noticing water on the boat.
Devastated, he posted an apology on social media today to patrons and supporters he felt he had ‘let down’.
But he revealed that his wife told him that “it’s better to see you upset than to make a video crying because you won’t come home.”
Andrew Bedwell appears during a test ride on the Big C boat he built in his garage.
Andrew shared a post on Facebook earlier today, apologizing to supporters and patrons.
Writing on social media, Andrew said: “There are so many people who have helped, sponsored and encouraged me and I feel so bad, I feel like I have let them all down.”
‘For now I need to get home and process what has happened. Thank you all so much for your support and once again I cannot apologize enough.
‘I’ll leave you with a quote from my wife: ‘Better to see you upset than me making a video crying because you’re not coming home’.
The sailor spent three years hand-building his fiberglass microyacht and set out on the 1,900-mile solo voyage from St John’s, Newfoundland, on Saturday.
He planned to survive on vitamin drinks and food bags made of dried meat, raisins, and fat during his voyage, which were molded into the walls of his cabin.
Andrew came up with the idea after reading a book by current record holder Hugo Vihlen, who made the perilous journey in a 5ft 4in (1.6m) boat 30 years ago.
And then he dedicated himself to self-financing the boat, which he built in the garage of his home, in Scarisbrick, Lancashire.
But disaster struck just hours into the voyage when his ship began to leave water and he was forced to turn back to shore.
He told his followers on Facebook: “After two long years, countless hours and God knows how much money, the dream of crossing the Atlantic in the Big C is no more.”
“We got going, but the first day I noticed a small leak. Better to be sure, I turned around to check.
“During the night the boat took on more water and when we pulled it out the ropes broke, the boat fell causing extensive damage to the boat.
I am beyond devastated. I was hoping to drain it, fix it and then move on or return it to the UK for a future date. Unfortunately, none of that is possible now.
He said at the time: ‘I don’t know what to say to everyone who has supported me, helped me, you all have been absolutely amazing. Big C no longer exists. She can’t continue. I can not do it, im sorry.
Andrew Bedwell shows up with supplies before setting sail to cross the Atlantic.
After years of work, Andrew’s dreams were sadly put on hold when the ship sank off Canada.
Andrew Bedwell, from Lancashire, was hoping to break the record for sailing the smallest ship to cross the Atlantic.
Bedwell, who works as a yachtsman and sailmaker, previously explained that after the boat began to take on water there were plans to make modifications and relaunch the boat, which took years to build and has a top speed of two and a half years. miles per hour.
The father only needed to reach a point within 50 miles west of Ireland to claim the world record for the smallest ship to cross the Atlantic, but he expected to finish in Falmouth by the end of August.
As a sailor, he sailed across Britain and traveled to the icy reaches of the Arctic Circle.
He said before he left that he wanted “a big challenge” before he was 50 and that he was “taking on a big challenge in a small ship”.
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