A British adventurer attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean for charity in ‘the world’s smallest boat’ has been rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard just two days into the challenge.
Bedwell, 52, departed from Newfoundland, Canada, on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, and had intended to attempt a 1,900-mile solo crossing that would have broken the record for the ‘world’s smallest boat’ crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The existing record is held by Hugo Vihlen of the US, who crossed the Atlantic aboard Father’s Day between 14 June and 27 September 1993. Vihlen’s boat measured 1.62m.
The home-made aluminium vessel Big C V2, which measured just 1.2m long, had travelled 30 nautical miles when Bedwell, who is 1.83m tall, called the Coast Guard for assistance.
In a statement, the Canadian Coast Guard said: “On Friday morning, 5 June, at approximately 9.30am local time, the Canadian Coast Guard was advised that the sailor onboard the Big C Atlantic Challenge, a small 1.2m sailing vessel, was in need of assistance. The vessel was approximately 75 miles east of Grates Cove, NL.
“The Canadian Coast Guard issued a marine broadcast for vessels in the area to assist, and the CCGS Sacred Bay was tasked out of Old Perlican.
“At approximately 2:15pm local time, the CCGS Sacred Bay arrived on scene and safely retrieved the sailor from their vessel.
“The CCGS Sacred Bay brought the sailor back to Old Perlican. The Big C Atlantic Challenge vessel was abandoned.”
A social media page being used to track the attempt posted a statement on 10 June, confirming that Bedwell was safe on dry land, and that a “fluke accident” had posed “a risk to [Bedwell’s] life”.
The statement confirms that Bedwell will not pursue the record a third time after his second aborted attempt.
Bedwell’s first attempt came to an abrupt end in 2023 after his original vessel, Big C, was damaged before launch. The 1.19m boat was dropped onto concrete while preparations were underway for the crossing, ending the voyage before it began.
He had hoped to complete the challenge in around 90 days. Alongside the voyage, Bedwell was raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
“I would truly love to break this record, but there comes a time when you have to ask yourself at what cost,” Bedwell says. “Not just to myself but to everybody else who’s involved.”
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