To be the first person to sail a production beach cat, with no fixed cabin & solo unsupported, across Southern California to Oahu in Hawaii.
Watch this 3 minute video to learn more!
After 750 miles of relentless testing, training, adventures on the TransCat NACRA F20, and following much deliberation and attempts to minimise as much risk as possible, we have come to the conclusion that the risk levels on this expedition cannot be mitigate on an acceptable level in order to move forward safely. This is what the testing is for; to determine whether these kind of world first expeditions are indeed possible, and even though we have done our utmost to get the risk factor to a safe and acceptable standard for Chris, his team, and sponsors.
The Reckoning
After 25 years of pushing his limits, this is the first time ever Chris has discontinued an expedition. A decision difficult to come by with multiple system challenges and failures, safety issues, and the Super El Niño weather anomalies has forced Chris to change his plans and not move forward with the crossing of the pacific, and we will now focusing on the fundraising efforts and aspect of the expedition.
This decision is after weeks of long haul testing and training missions centred around simulating the conditions similar to that of the North Pacific crossing, and gathering as much data as possible to be able to come up with solutions to potential pitfalls.
Due to the righting system still being a challenge in mild conditions with all the gear and ballast included, the electronic and autopilots not being robust enough to be able to handle extreme conditions and the unique weather anomalies associated with the extreme El Nino weather event this year, it would be reckless moving forward with the crossing considering all the data we have accumulated and learned over the last two months of testing.
The Pivot:
As much as sad and frustrating as this is and with all the time, money, and effort that has gone into the last three years of making this expedition possible, there are many positive take aways, insights, and accomplishments we can take forward from the last two years of the expedition.
Chris is now one of only a few people on the planet that has sailed a 20ft open beach cat, solo for over 750 miles offshore and around any coastline on the planet – which is no small feat and a big accomplishment in itself!
Through this journey, we have already raised money to do multiple inspiring mentor sessions around the country with disadvantaged kids in 2025 and paid for ocean education sessions in South Africa.
We now move into the most impactful part of the expedition. Our mission, vision, and goal has not changed, we are still 100% committed and focused on the school classroom build in Northern Kenya and planting forests to have dramatic impact on the community and the environment.
We need your help and support to be able to make this possible and continue on the mission to create positive global impact.
The Journey
In 2025, we built a custom 20ft full-carbon semi-foiling beach cat for one purpose:
To achieve something never done before: To sail a production beach cat solo, unsupported and fully exposed to the elements, with no fixed cabin or shelter, across the Pacific Ocean, from California to Hawaii, over 2,600 nautical miles.
Last year was about building and testing limits. Endless innovation, training, testing, overnight runs, multi-day missions and brutal exposure to sun, cold, wind and ocean, 24 hours a day. In June 2025, Chris sailed more than 200 nautical miles offshore and back over three days, gaining critical insight into the systems, safety and upgrades needed for the next phase, to complete it successfully.
In 2026, Chris returned to the water to continue testing with the intention of following through with the mission. However, after weeks of gruelling and life threatening conditions, Chris decided to hang up his white flag to mother nature, and focus pouring his passion into fundraising and still achieving the most important goal – raise funds for:
- A circular economy school classroom for youth in Northern Kenya
- Plant 4000+ trees in Africa and Central/South America
Chris’ Past Projects
Chris Bertish is a globally recognized Ocean Pioneer- Mavericks Big Wave Champion, Guinness World Record adventurer, best-selling author and keynote speaker.
Chris is no stranger to World firsts and World Records:
- The first person to paddle into giant waves at Jaws, Peahi, Hawaii
- Winning the Mavericks Big Wave surf event in the biggest paddle in waves in history
- Setting the 12hr Stand up paddle world record & Guinness World Record
- The first and only person to still ever to stand-up paddle solo and unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean
- The first and only person to still ever to wing foil solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean
GLOBAL REACH & IMPACT
Chris’ world-first expeditions generate significant global reach and engagement across social, digital, print and international news media, creating sustained worldwide visibility for partners, sponsors and conservation initiatives.
WHY
All of Chris’s expeditions are rooted in purpose, using adventure and global exposure to give back through education, conservation and sustainability initiatives.
The TransCat Expedition
In 2026 turns global visibility into real-world impact for people and the planet:
- Sept – Dec 2026:
- Building a circular economy classroom in Kenya
- Planting 4,000+ trees globally through the SeaTrees and Word Forest initiatives
- Supporting coral restoration in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii through the SeaTrees initiative
- Dec 2025 (completed):
- Paying for Ocean Education initiatives through the 2 Oceans Education Foundation in South Africa
- Paying for Mobile Ocean Aquarium & Educational Sessions for the Nine Miles Project, Waves for Change & the Sentinel Alliance
Please note that our intention is for a large proportion of the fundraising to happen during the journey. However, there are two additional fundraising events that will take place after the expedition has finished, between August 2026 and March 2027.
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Product & Support
Meet the TransCat Expedition 2026 Oceans Without Borders Team:
It takes a dedicated team to turn a vision into reality, and the TransCat Expedition 2026 is a testament to the incredible individuals who make it all possible. Their hard work, passion, and commitment fuel this journey, and we are immensely grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you for being the wonderful humans you are, and for bringing this expedition to life!
- Chris Bertish – Expedition Lead
- Heather Reed– EA & Partnerships Coordinator
- Kealeboga Djaje – Social Media
- Evelyn O’Doherty – Media Liaison
- Ashley Eckenweiler from ACE PR Agency USA
- Kelly Burke from Flux Com PR Agency SA
- Andrew Watts from Urchin Design
- Leven Brown from Northwest Passage – Routing & Navigation Project Lead
- Mark Sponsler from Stormsurf – Weather Forecaster
- Maryke Musson from SAAMBRE – Conservation & Education Consultant
- Dale Staples from Staples Productions – Video Editor
- Cree Partridge from Berkeley Marine Centre
