And He is Off: Chris Bertish Faces His Next "World First" Adventure

Photo Credit: Supplied

South African adventurer Chris Bertish has launched the TransCat Expedition: a world-first solo sail from California to Hawaii on a beach catamaran.

South Africa (26 June 2025) – Cape Town-born ocean adventurer and global changemaker Chris Bertish has done some wild things in his life, like paddling solo across the Atlantic or wing-foiling from California to Hawaii. But his latest undertaking? It might just be the most daring yet.

On 25 June 2025, Bertish launched the TransCat Expedition: Oceans Without Borders, a world-first, solo, unsupported sail from San Diego, California to Oahu, Hawaii aboard a 20-foot production beach catamaran with no cabin, powered only by wind and solar energy.

That’s 2,800 nautical miles across the Pacific, exposed to the elements, with no physical support or safety net. Just Chris, the open ocean, and a mission that reaches far beyond the horizon.

“This isn’t just about crossing an ocean,” says Bertish. “It’s about crossing the boundaries of what’s possible — for people, for the planet, and for future generations.”

And that’s what makes this more than just an extreme sports headline. The TransCat Expedition is a deeply intentional journey; a ripple that Bertish hopes will spark a global wave of change.

Through the expedition, and in collaboration with Wild Impact, Bertish is:

Planting 6,000 trees across Africa and North America to offset emissions,
Restoring coral reefs in Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay,
Building a sustainable education centre in Kenya to promote food security and circular economies,
And inspiring over 1 million youth through live classroom streams beamed straight from the boat.

For Bertish, who famously crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2017 on a stand-up paddleboard and has raised millions through his previous expeditions, the cause has always been bigger than the craft.

“This expedition is my ripple,” he says. “It’s a way to remind people that even in the face of global crises, one person can still make a massive difference.”

It’s a test of grit, endurance, and deep-sea navigation, but also a call to action. A call to show up for the oceans, for our youth, and for the future we’re still capable of building.

As the world watches his GPS tracker inch across the Pacific, one thing’s for sure: Chris Bertish is not just crossing oceans, he’s moving tides.