My Story 

My name is Chris Bertish, waterman, adventurer, conservationist andinspirational speaker. I use my passion to fulfill my purpose: creating extraordinary world-first adventures that give back to people and the planet, inspiring others to turn adversity into opportunity to achieve the impossible. 

In 2017 I stand up paddled across the Atlantic Ocean (4050m/7500km), solo and unsupported, over 93 days. I didn’t just do it to break a record: I did it to raise a great deal of money for two charities close to my heart – Operation SmileandThe Lunchbox Fund– while also highlighting the plastic pollution challenge facing our oceans. A film about this epic journey will launch globally in July 2021.

I took my supporters with me, via live weekly ‘Captain’s Log’ posts and updates from the middle of the ocean.  Having supporters with me, even if only in spirit, made the journey doable. And judging by their feedback, they got as much out of it as I did!

 

Now I’m preparing to do another epic adventure, something no one has ever attempted: to be the first human to Wing-Foil across any ocean – alone, completely unsupported and unassisted, powered only by Nature! 

Starting on the West Coast of California in Half Moon Bay, I’ll navigate across the Pacific to Oahu, Hawaii, a distance of over 2850 NM.  This is the equivalent of more than 2 full marathons every day, for more than 55 days straight.

This project will be completely carbon neutral.  Zero Fossil fuelswill be used from the moment of departure over the 2850 mile journey, and only organic, biodegradable waste will be allowed back into the environment. Through our carbon-offset strategy, we’ll plant multiple forests through the Heyerdahl Climate Change Park in Myanmar, for which I’m an Ambassador. 

 

This project will also raise money towards six of the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): GOAL 4 – Quality Education; GOAL 7 – Clean Energy; GOAL 13 – Climate Action; GOAL 14 – Life Below Water, GOAL 15 – Life on Land; GOAL 17 – Partnerships to achieve the SDGs.

 

What We Need 

Due to the extreme demands of this expedition, we are investing heavily into a total overhaul of my little craft, which was purpose-built in the UK for my Atlantic crossing in 2017. 

We’ll be re-doing all the electronics, satellite communications, power matrix, solar units, and hydro charger systems for auxiliary power. 

 

We’ll be upgrading to a Lithium battery bank, changing the Autopilot system to hydraulics, adding a backup Windvane steering system, while also making important alterations to the hull, deck and sidewalls. 

To upgrade the Impifish to a Wingfoiling Craft we’ll be adding specialized hydrofoils, currently being built in New Zealand by top foil manufacturers, through Armstrong. 

We are investing heavily into the most advanced tech and the latest satellite communication systems available for such a small craft. This will allow me to do live interviews in real time, from the middle of the Pacific, making the project more interactive, engaging and educational.  

 

We’re putting an emphasis on minimizing our environmental impact, by utilizing only natural energy.  All onboard electronics, autopilots, the watermaker and navigational systems will be powered by renewable solar, wind and hydro power. The entire project is completely powered by Nature!

 

We really need your help to get the craft upgraded and shipped from the United Kingdom to the West Coast of the USA, which is going to cost over $95,000.00, including Shipping and Insurance. 

I’ve already invested a significant amount of my own personal finance into the project, and a couple of really amazing friends have chipped in too, but until we get some bigger sponsors onboard, we are short $55 000.00 USD, to get the Impifish from the UK to the USA by 20 March, 2021, so that we can launch this project in June. 

 

The Impact 

Our give back target for this project includes: 

– Planting more than 1000 trees, through the Worldview Climate Change park 

– Sponsoring more than 100 Operations through the Operation Smile global.

– Sponsoring Marine Educational Outreach Programs to more than 1000 children from disadvantaged communities in South Africa the 2 Oceans Aquarium Foundation

– Donating more than $10 000 towards Conservation International Projects 

– Collecting Science and Data collected on the adventure, on Ocean Health with  Conservation International and the IMBARI Institute

​- Connecting with and presenting live ocean classroom interviews+ talks for more than  150 000 learners, from the middle of the Pacific, throughout the journey.

My entire journey will be tracked by a GPS, so you can come along with me on this adventure. I’ll also be delivering daily and weekly updates, including images and short videos, documenting the journey from start to finish and everything in between. 

As a B Corp Certified business I try each and every day to be an ambassador for positive change and to inspire the best out of everyone I meet, using sport and adventure to inspire hope, courage, confidence and positive change in the world. 

In everything I do, I try and create awareness and give back to the 5 cornerstones of the Chris Bertish Foundation and my I’MPossible brand: People, Planet, Education, Inspiration, and Sustainability. 

Through these projects we empower and inspire the youth and people around the world to believe in themselves, have the courage to step out of their comfort zones, to do more, be more and achieve their own impossible, by believing in I’MPossible.

 

My last SUP Trans Atlantic Project in 2017 won multiple awards for its impact and reach, which included: 

– Feeding over 100,000 kids in impoverished communities through the Lunchbox fund;

– Paying for almost 1000 operations for children born with cleft pallets through Operation Smile; 

– Helping reach over 100,000 kids through the Marine Education Programme at the Two Oceans Aquarium;

– Inspiring over 1.3 million people who followed the adventure over social media. 

 

My goal with this new project is to go far beyond my previous reach, funding new courses and outreach programs for education and helping disadvantaged communities, while collecting data and science along the journey, raising awareness for conservation, climate action, ocean health and sustainability projects.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Even if you don’t have the financial resources to back this journey, please help us by spreading the word.  Let people know about this project and our crowdfunding campaign by sharing it within your network, so we can continue to make this project as impactful as possible. 

 

One easy way to do this is to share this page on your social media and with friends and family. 

 

Let’s keep making a difference, inspiring others and making the world a better place by helping expeditions like this that not only give back to conservation and education, but also inspire hope and make us all believe in what’s possible. If we work together to be the change we wish to see in the world, if we give back and help others, we can all get through anything, even the seemingly impossible.

 

If there is one thing I have learned in this epic journey called life it is that success needs a team. Please join me on this incredible journey, and support my mission to leave a lasting impact on the world through adventure and conservation.  

– Chris 

For information on investment & higher level sponsorship options, please contact Chris and the team at enquiries@chrisbertish.com