A DARING dad trying to cross the Atlantic in a tiny tub has been forced to abandon his voyage on the first day.
Andrew Bedwell’s one-metre boat sprang a leak and was then destroyed when it was dropped in a recovery operation.
He set off from Canada on Saturday on a three-month 1,900-mile trip to Falmouth, Cornwall.
But just hours later the 49-year-old was back in port for repairs after the vessel filled with water.
While being lifted from the harbour the fibreglass boat, built by yachtsman Andrew in his garage in Scarisbrick, Lancs, was damaged beyond repair.
He had earlier revealed: “We had to make some modifications prior to leaving yesterday on the boat.
“At sea, I noticed some water ingress.
“Wasn’t happy with it so come back in for safety reasons just to check it.
We’re heading out to the boat now to assess the situation to see what we are doing.”
Andrew, dad to ten-year-old Poppy, hoped to break the solo sail record in Big C and raise cash for cancer research.
He said yesterday: “I don’t know what to say.
“She can’t carry on.
“I can’t do it. I’m sorry.”
