“From ‘Sofa to Sailboat’!”
Forget about ‘Couch to 5K’; a leisure sailor and his inexperienced ex-Team GB crewmate are moving from their sofas onto a tiny 17ft sailboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean in aid of charity.
In December 2023, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw and crewmate Farris Collins will take on an incredible challenge as they cross 3000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, unassisted in a tiny upcycled 50-year-old ‘Leisure 17’ sailboat, which has been nicknamed their ‘dinghy with a lid’. The pair aim to raise £100,000 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS-UK, and St Helena Hospice.
The skipper, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw (40), a Marine Surveyor/Electrician, is a leisure sailor of thirteen years; he has honed his skills on the North Sea and East Coast. In addition, he’ll use the technical knowledge he’s gained during nine years as a consultant for record-breaking world Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Rowing teams. John-Kenneth was previously a volunteer in the Blue Light Emergency Services until his health led to his retirement from that role.
Joining him as First Mate is Farris Collins (25), an ex-Team-GB four times gold medal Commonwealth, and a bronze medal World Championship Powerlifter.
Farris is completely inexperienced when it comes to sailing but is no stranger to pushing himself to the limit. He draws on his experience on various fundraising expeditions, including climbing Kilimanjaro and Mt Toubkal and completing a half marathon.
Farris added: “I have never sailed before, so this will be a massive challenge for me. But I am determined to give it my all, and I am confident we can make it across. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, and we hope that people will continue to donate to our fundraising page.
“Their journey will take approximately six weeks and cover a distance of over 3000 miles from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. The brave duo will face numerous challenges, including unpredictable weather, rough seas, and isolation. The upcycled boat is being specially modified for the ocean crossing; it will also use some of the latest marine technologies and renewable energy equipment to make the expedition as safe as possible and without reliance on fossil fuels.
The project follows advice from ‘The Green Blue’, an RYA/British Marine joint environmental program.
The team be sharing updates and photos of their journey on social media, and people can follow their progress and make donations via their fundraising page: https://www.sofatosailboat.co.uk
Sofa To Sailboat is also seeking corporate sponsor support: https://www.sofatosailboat.co.uk/sponsor-information
THE ADVENTURE
Following the seasonal trade winds, the 3000-mile crossing will be east to west from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.
• The trip across the Atlantic will take approximately 30-40 days.
• The boat will average a speed of 3.5 knots per hour (4mph), a fast walking pace.
• With no onboard refrigeration, the crew will survive on a diet of rehydrated ration meal packs.
• Fresh water will be produced by a motorised desalination unit, with a manual backup device and rationed supplies.
• There is no toilet will be on board; the team will have to use the ‘bucket and chuck it’ method, in line with
MARPOL regulations for leisure vessels.
• The largest waves could measure up to 40ft, which is twice higher than the boat mast.
• At its deepest, the Atlantic Ocean is 5.28 miles (8.5km) deep.
THE BOAT
• ‘Poppet’ is an early MK1′ Leisure 17′ made from fibreglass by Cobramould in Stanstead, Essex.
• Approximately 53 years old; unfortunately, the original build records were lost in a factory fire.
• Measuring just 17ft (5.2m) long, the boat is smaller than a popular white builders’ van!
• When fully provisioned with equipment and crew, it’ll weigh about 1000kg.
THE CHARITIES
• Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, and financial support to people affected by cancer.
• Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
• MS-UK provides information, advice, and support to anyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
• St Helena Hospice provides specialist care and support to people living with life-limiting illnesses and their Families.
