Chris Bertish, internationally acclaimed South African Big Wave surfer and Guinness SUP World Record Holder, launched off the north-west coast of Africa in Morocco on Tuesday in the greatest solo, open ocean adventure ever attempted – to paddle across the Atlantic Ocean.
He is taking advantage of his experience on countless prior world record attempts and achievements, as well as knowledge from his sailing and big wave ocean experience, coupled with elements from his record-breaking, open ocean SUP’s and the Transatlantic row boat crafts.
This has resulted in the building of a completely unique craft, designed specifically to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Dubbed the greatest solo, open ocean adventure ever attempted, Chris will depart from Agadir in Morocco after completing the final craft testing, preparations and awaiting the right weather window to depart.
Starting in Morocco, he will begin the voyage to the Canary Islands, across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Caribbean Leeward Island of Anegada, before finally ending the journey in Florida.
After six months of building the craft, months of intense training and preparation and five years of stringent planning, Chris will use his wealth of knowledge and experience to paddle across 7 500 km of open ocean, doing the equivalent of a marathon a day for over 120 days straight.
The main purpose of this crossing is to leave a legacy by raising funds for The Lunchbox Fund, Operation Smile and Signature of Hope with the target of raising R20-million and making the entire project a completely self-sustainable charity initiative, that will have a lasting legacy for generations to follow.
Chris will also be working with, and doing research and raising ocean conservation awareness for the Two Oceans Aquarium, over the course of his crossing. – African News Agency (ANA)
