World-first as man crosses Atlantic Ocean unaided on paddle board

[robert sailor]

So the next time someone asks if a Benni/Hunter can sail across the ocean the answer is, hell ya, I could cross it on a paddle board.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

Response 4: As long as it doesn't have keel bolts it's blue water capable.

Response 5: People are starting to move away from single paddle-boards. Dual paddle-boards is where it's at!

[dofthesea]

Steady Hand I totally agree. he has raised a lot of money for a good causes.

Mark before you poo poo something.... when is the last you raised $425,000 for a charitable cause?

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by 1000 islands

The unaided should really be interpreted as solo,which he was not.

The very first picture shows his assisting boat.

To me it's a bunch of bs but he'll make a few bucks from it and get his name in the Guinness book.

Lol......did you even read the caption for the picture?

"Chris Bertish approaching English Harbour, Antigua on the morning of March 9"

There just boat load of people out to welcome him, anyhow, how far out into the Atlantic do you think the "assisting" boat would get with a couple of gas guzzling outboards......?

[toddster8]

I remember when I was in high school - or maybe early college - some French guy "rowed" across the Pacific. The editor pointed out that he "rowed" just about exactly the course and speed of a piece of driftwood.

[aquarian]

What is that saying . . . .
You can cross an ocean in just about anything as long as the weather is right. ;-)
Really glad he's been able to raise so much money.

[goat]

I guess he could have just bought a PSC Flicka, took the mast off and stood up to scull it across. It would have been heavier but 2 feet shorter, could you still call it a paddle board...?
Anyway, good on him for raising so much for charity and not just trying to get a book/movie deal.

goat

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by williamtl

So, I can just see the next thread, "I'm new to the site, going to quit my job and cross oceans. What type of paddle boards are blue water capable? I have $4 to spend."

Response 1: Only rigid PBs are bluewater capable. They must have a full keel, none of these little stub keels at the back. And for heavens sake don't try it in an inflatable.

Response 2: There are plenty of inflatable PBs that are blue ...

Response 3: oNLY cUSTOM pbS aRE bWC

...

All in fun. [emoji3]

Response 5
Never, never buy a mono PB - get one with 2 hulls and make sure your Paddle has breaking strength calculated so it acts as a fuse and snaps before you capsize. Oh and make sure you don't buy a production board - they aren't made for serious paddling -

All in good fun

[tuffr2]

I watched the video of the finish. Horns blowing, fist pumping, smiles from everyone.

I have to say that was really super cool!!! I guess I would call his boat a super duper paddle board. Agree it should be a pattened design.

I noticed at the finish the paddle board would wobble as he moved around on it. So it was paddle board like.

But all in all...good for him. Really cool adventure!!!

[Cotemar]

This is the most Expensive Paddle Board on the planet.

If you can even call it a Paddle Board.

Someone sponsored spending $100,000 + for the sole purpose of setting a RECORD.
.
.

[1000 islands]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

Lol......did you even read the caption for the picture?

"Chris Bertish approaching English Harbour, Antigua on the morning of March 9"

There just boat load of people out to welcome him, anyhow, how far out into the Atlantic do you think the "assisting" boat would get with a couple of gas guzzling outboards......?

Maybe not that particular boat, but beside the fact I think he was assisted, I can't see that "paddle board" staying afloat in any in-climate weather.

And I can't see how he'd be able to store enough food and water to last 93 days and still have a place to sleep/rest/ride out a storm.

It's still BS to me

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

90 days.

Steve Calagan did it in a life raft after his boat sank in 70 days.

It gets to be dogs bollocks... remember a few years ago it was about how young a girl could be to circumnavigate? (As long as they were relatively pretty)

So now its idiots floating on carboard boxes... as long as its down wind and down current.

Only difference is this one landed in Antigua and the 1970's life raft landed in Barbuda ... 5nms the difference.

There is a difference. The newest guy accomplished a lot, but it was a prepared venture and goal, and not on a paddle board (if the photos are correct). This is not to take away from what he did, but it is not the same in so many ways. I would not equal the latest one, and never could, period. But one of the reasons I have been able to sail solo for a few long trips in the past is the vague, and probably chimerical, hope that I could do something like the guy on the life raft if it came to that.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by 1000 islands

Maybe not that particular boat, but beside the fact I think he was assisted, I can't see that "paddle board" staying afloat in any in-climate weather.

And I can't see how he'd be able to store enough food and water to last 93 days and still have a place to sleep/rest/ride out a storm.

It's still BS to me

Smaller, less suitable, craft have made the journey .. in 1956 Hannes Lindemann made the journey in 72 days in an unmodified 17' Klepper folding kayak (although he did use a small sail most of the way) ... totally unsupported ... for him, without a cabin or self-righting hull, riding out a storm involved hanging on to his capsized hull in the water. As for food and water, the menu will be a bit bland but 90 days food can weigh less than 90 lbs, although Lindemann used rainwater, I bet there was a watermaker on this "paddleboard".

The only thing new about this journey is that he stood up to do the paddling ... but he still did it in good style, and a fine result for charity

[Dave22q]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

So the next time someone asks if a Benni/Hunter can sail across the ocean the answer is, hell ya, I could cross it on a paddle board.

Unaided??? Seems to me that a tender to carry supplies etc is aid. He did not accomplish anything that driftwood does not do. Did he face storms unaided?

[Tessellate]

Pretty cool vessel. I don't understand how paddling can provide sufficient drive to move a 1300 lb vessel though. Even with a minimal underbody; normal SUPs are under 100 lbs. It seems he only paddled in calm conditions, but even then I wonder how hard is it to paddle a 1300 lb board?

His website has a lot more details. He used a para-anchor system in any windy conditions to just let the board drive itself down the waves while he sheltered in the watertight cabin. It says he was on the para-anchor quite a bit.

About The SUP Crossing | Chris Bertish