Chris Bertish is preparing to navigate a daring voyage in a world-first adventure all for ocean conservation and education!
Global (21 May 2025) — South African adventurer, author, speaker, ocean pioneer and ocean advocate, Chris Bertish, is poised to embark on his most daring voyage yet: the TransCat Expedition 2025, Oceans without Borders. A world-first adventure, the journey would see Chris become the first person to sail a production beach catamaran solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. And, he’s doing it all for ocean conservation and education.
Launching from Dana Point, California, in late June, Chris will navigate 2,800 nautical miles to Oahu, Hawaii, over an estimated 17 to 21 days. The expedition will be powered solely by wind and solar energy, highlighting a commitment to sustainable exploration.
But, it won’t be a comfortable ride by any means. The Wildcat is a 20-foot, semi-foiling beach catamaran that’s designed for agility and speed. It lacks any comforts of traditional ocean-crossing craft, including a cabin for shelter, a kitchen or even a toilet.
This means he will face the elements head-on, full-time, 24/7. No escape from the sun, storms or the cold of night. And of course, there’s the extreme solitude.
But, Chris is positive about it all with his eyes set on the bigger picture.
“This expedition is not just about breaking records; it’s about inspiring change,” says Chris. “By pushing the limits of what’s possible, we aim to spotlight the urgent need for Ocean stewardship and educational access.
“When we protect our ocean, we protect all life on this planet.”
The TransCat Expedition is a multifaceted initiative aimed at global impact, including:
- Building a circular economy classroom for a school in Kenya. July – November 2025
- Paying for Ocean Education initiatives through SAAMBRA and the 2 Oceans Education Foundation in South Africa.
- Paying for Mobile Ocean Aquarium and Educational Sessions for the Nine Miles Project, Waves for Change and the Sentinel Alliance.
- Planting more than 1,000 trees in North America, through the Sea Trees initiative and 3,000 Trees in Africa, through the Word Forest initiative.
- Paying towards the Coral Restoration Project in Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, also through the Sea Trees initiative.
The new world-record attempt rides the coattails of Chris’s record-setting endeavours. These include a solo stand-up paddle across the Atlantic in 2017 for 93 days and a solo wing-foil journey across the Pacific for 49 days.
Each world-first adventure had giving back at its heart, and the latest (which also happens to be the most extreme) is no exception.
“As Sir David Attenborough said – when we save the ocean, we save the world! We all need to take collective action for a sustainable future. Every small step and action counts, we can only accomplish this together!” Chris comments.
You can support his epic cause across the ocean, for the ocean, here.
Sources: Supplied
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