How Andrew Bedwell's Big C Atlantic Challenge Failed

Big C is like a lifetime dream

Just recently we told about the fact that Andrew Bedwell - well known to our regular readers - is about to set off to conquer the Atlantic in a miniature boat, only 1.10 meters long.

The Big C Atlantic Challenge is the project of yachtsman and sailor Andrew Bedwell. In addition to setting a new world record, Andrew was going to raise public awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. 

The project was inspired by Tom McNally, who in 1993 set a record by making a transatlantic crossing in a boat only 162 cm long. Tom built a Big C, on board of which Andrew was going to break the record of another traveler, Hugo Vilen. Alas, Tom died of cancer in 2017 and could not see his offspring afloat.

Andrew is a boat repairer and approached the late Tom's family for permission to restore the boat. In case of successful restoration and modernization (as it happened), Andrew was allowed to take a boat to travel across the ocean.

A series of failures

The start of the trip was scheduled for May 23 in St. John's, Newfoundland. Andrew was supposed to finish at Lizard Point, Cornwall. The problems started almost from the very beginning.

A couple of hours after leaving the port, Andrew noticed that the boat was taking on water. At first, the traveler did not betray this much importance and scooped out excess water overboard. However, at some point he realized that it was not safe to swim further. Andrew decided to return to port.

By the time Andrew got to the pier, Big C had already taken on a fair amount of water. When the man and his team decided to get the boat out of the water, they realized that there was so much water inside that it was impossible to get it out with the help of cables. Andrew's team made the decision to lift the Big C with a crane by the hull frame. 

And then everything finally did not go according to plan - due to the amount of water in the hull, the boat fell off the crane and fell flat on the shore. Now Big C is completely destroyed.

Through hardship to the stars

A couple of days later, Andrew posted a heartbreaking appeal on his social media pages. Unable to hold back his tears, the man says, “I don't know what to say to everyone who supported me and helped me. You are all amazing. But Big C is no more. She can't keep going. I can't. I'm really sorry".

In the comments, the vast majority of users supported Andrew. One commenter wrote: “I'm so sorry! Big dreams usually come with big challenges. I wish you success." Another commenter added: “If it was easy, everyone would do it. Take a couple of days off, regroup, regroup. You promised nothing to anyone but yourself. Keep in line."

This story, the ending of which has not yet been definitely written, shows that sometimes the path to a dream is paved not only with rose petals, but also with strong disappointment, pain and sometimes despair. 

However, that's what they are great dreams - not to give up so easily for the sake of their achievement. We wish Andrew to fulfill his dream and break the record. 

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01.06.2023