A British father who is attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest boat ever has set sail – three years after his previous vessel sunk. 

Andrew Bedwell, 52, left Newfoundland, Canada, on Wednesday and will sail 1,900 miles on his own to the UK. 

The sailor from Scarisbreck, Lancashire, is hoping to complete the voyage on his 4ft long home-built vessel, known as the Big CV, in around 90 days. 

Before setting off on his adventure, Andrew said: ‘I’m so excited, but this is a huge challenge for me as well.

‘Some say getting to the start is the hardest – I hope so, and then I can look forward to doing what I love.

The mariner’s latest attempt at a voyage will be his second in three years, with his previous vessel – named ‘Big C’ made from fibreglass – being sidelined after it sank in 2023 on the first day.

Andrew was then tasked with creating a new boat, which he named ‘Big C V2’, which is fractionally longer than the last vessel, made from tougher aluminium and has a top speed of 4.2mph. 

The sailor planned to take on the challenge in May last year, but postponed it until now after wanting to complete more sea trials. 

Andrew Bedwell has set off on his challenge to cross the Atlantic in the smallest ever boat

Andrew was launched off from Newfoundland, Canada, and will sail 1,900 miles alone to the UK. The journey is expected to last 90 days

Pictured: The Big CV2 moored at Petty Harbour, Newfoundland 

In April, he shipped the tiny boat from the UK to the starting point in Newfoundland and has spent the last few weeks making sure everything was in ‘good working order’, according to his friend Rita Taylor. 

Taylor, 29, who put Andrew and his friend Gordon up in Canada, said: ‘Last time was too rushed – the boat was craned in on the day he planned to set off.

‘This time it allowed him and Gordon to monitor and check on it to ensure everything was fine before launch day.’

The record has been unbroken for the past three decades, currently held by Hugo Vihlen, who made the dangerous crossing in 105 days in a 5ft 4inch boat 30 years ago.

Andrew’s boat was pulled out four and a half miles off the coast of Canada, past Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America.

This was so he could escape the winds, which could have pushed him back to shore, according to Rita, as his boat can only travel into the downwind.

Rita said: ‘The vibe on board was very positive, everything felt good, and Andrew’s spirits were high.

‘The conditions were the best he was going to get, calm waters with the wind blowing in a southwesterly direction at force 3, around 10 mph. 

The vessel in which Andrew hopes to complete his voyage on is called the ‘Big CV’. It is 3.9ft long

‘The tow out was very smooth, the boat was moving with the wind and bobbing in the water well.

‘Andrew climbed into the boat and checked that everything was all good. He seemed confident.

‘When it came to the release, it was very clean and smooth.

‘The wind changed for the better when we got past Cape Spear, his sails picked up straight away, and when he set off, he began sailing in the right direction.

‘Andrew’s setting off was a huge sigh of relief after last time.

‘Everyone on board and at home is excited and confident he is going to succeed.’

Andrew is 6 ft 2, and with the boat just under four ft long, it means he has to spend most of the journey crouched into a slightly extended fetal position in good conditions.

During the rough waters, he has revealed he will be harnessed into a seated position inside what he has described as an ‘upgraded wheely bin’. 

The journey began this week – three years after his previous vessel – named ‘Big C’ made from fibreglass was sidelined after it ‘sank’ in 2023 on the first day. Pictured: Andrew on his sinking vessel three years ago 

He has also said he only has 98 days of food onboard.

Despite freezing temperatures, choppy conditions, and even the risk of icebergs, surprisingly, Andrew said he isn’t ‘nervous’ at all.

Andrew instead admitted the hardest thing will be to be away from his wife and daughter who are his ‘rocks’, but he hopes to have enough power on the boat to contact them using a satellite phone.

The seaman says his aims for the challenge are to raise money for Cancer Research and inspire people to ‘take on their dreams’.

Andrew is expected to land back in the UK between August and September.