Atlantic Record Attempt Ends After Andrew Bedwell Rescued From 1-Metre Yacht

British adventurer Andrew Bedwell's latest attempt to set a world record for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean has come to an abrupt end after he was rescued off the coast of Newfoundland just two days into his journey.

Bedwell departed St. John's, Newfoundland, on June 4th aboard Big C V2, a custom-built microyacht measuring just 3'3" (1.03 m) in length. The crossing was intended to break the long-standing Guinness World Record held by American sailor Hugo Vihlen, who crossed the Atlantic in a 1.62-metre vessel in 1993.

The voyage was actually Bedwell's second attempt at the record, after his original crossing in 2023 ended in disaster when water entered the boat shortly after departure. During recovery operations after coming back to port, the original Big C was accidentally dropped onto a harbour wall by a crane, destroying it and forcing Bedwell back to the drawing board.

His replacement vessel, Big C V2, was designed by Bedwell and naval architect Jérôme Delaunay. Constructed from aluminium, the boat features an encapsulated 250 lb (115 kg) lead keel to keep it upright, a sealed polycarbonate dome hatch, solar power, onboard communications equipment, and a compact sail system designed specifically for the extreme challenge of a solo Atlantic crossing. Given the vessel's tight spacing, not to mention Bedwell's 6'1'' frame, food supplies are compact and uniquely organized. His diet for the trip is comprised mainly of an energy bar made from beef jerky, raisins, and fat. To minimize the space used in the boat, the vacuum-sealed packs are molded right into the interior framework. Bedwell is unable to lie down flat inside Big C V2, forcing him to sleep in a semi-upright position in short bursts throughout the journey.

Bedwell's latest attempt ran into trouble while sailing approximately 120 kilometres (65 nautical miles) east of Newfoundland's Bay de Verde Peninsula. The Canadian Coast Guard responded to a radio call and dispatched their vessel Sacred Bay, which rescued Bedwell on June 6th. A brief statement posted to the official Big C Atlantic Challenge Facebook page said Bedwell experienced a "technical issue," adding that "Andrew is fine and back on land. More updates when we can."

While he was unharmed, the fate of Big C V2 appears less certain. News outlets have reported that Big C V2 may have suffered significant damage during the incident. According to Global News, the coast guard brought Bedwell to Old Perlican, N.L., also on the Bay de Verde Peninsula, "but the Big C Atlantic Challenge boat was abandoned."

For his 2026 attempt, Bedwell was expecting the journey to take between 60-90 days. He was expected to sail directly from the Newfoundland coast to Cornwall, England, a total distance of roughly 3400 kilometres (2100 miles). His route was expected to follow the traditional North Atlantic track toward southwest England through some of the world’s busiest and most challenging water.

Bedwell said his voyage was not just for the adventure but to raise money for Cancer Research UK, after losing both parents to the disease. #news