Chris Bertish announces TransCat Expedition - Across the Pacific in a cabin-less beach catamaran

Chris Bertish testing his craft in preparation for TransCat Expedition 2026 © Fred Pompermayer

South African Adventurer, Author, Speaker, Ocean Pioneer and Ocean Advocate Chris Bertish is poised to embark on his most daring voyage yet: the TransCat Expedition 2026, Oceans without Borders.

This groundbreaking journey will see Bertish become the first person to sail a production beach catamaran—without a fixed cabin—solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean.

Launching from Mission Bay in San Diego, California, in mid-June, Bertish will navigate 2,600 nautical miles to Oahu, Hawaii, over an estimated 23 to 28 days. The expedition will be powered solely by wind and solar energy, underscoring a commitment to sustainable exploration.

The 2026 expedition builds on critical insights gained during Bertish's 2025 attempt, when he made the strategic decision to turn back early after encountering some electronics and safety issues, while identifying key opportunities to improve vessel systems and performance for the following season. "There is no such thing as failure in life, only a failure to try, but we need to take the feedback, lessons and learnings, keep evolving, improving and moving forward," said Bertish. Rather than push forward with safety concerns and a closing weather window, Bertish prioritized long-term success and spent the past year refining the systems and equipment, implementing design upgrades and completing extensive offshore testing to ensure the strongest possible relaunch and opportunity for success.

"Taking the time to properly test, refine and prepare has allowed us to come back stronger, safer and smarter, setting this expedition and its impact up for success," Bertish stated. "This expedition is not just about breaking records; it's about inspiring positive change. By pushing the limits of what's possible, we aim to spotlight the urgent need for Ocean stewardship and educational access. When we protect our ocean, we protect all life on this planet."

The TransCat Expedition is more than a maritime world record-setting challenge; it's a multifaceted initiative aimed at global impact, including:

• Building a circular economy classroom for a school in Kenya (August -December 2026)
• Paying for Mobile Ocean Aquarium & Educational Sessions for the Nine Miles Project, Waves for Change & the Sentinel Alliance
• Planting more than 1,000 trees in North America, through the SeaTrees initiative and 3,000 Trees in Africa, through the World Forest initiative
• Contributing to the Coral Restoration Project in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, via SeaTrees

Bertish's vessel, The Wildcat, a 20-foot, semi-foiling beach catamaran, has undergone critical upgrades following the 2025 attempt and is designed for agility and speed, yet still lacks the comforts of traditional ocean-crossing craft, with no cabin, shelter, kitchen or toilet.

For three to four weeks, he will face the elements head-on, 24/7—battling relentless sun, storms, wet and cold, both day and night. He will endure extreme solitude without a cabin for shelter, a support crew or a backup vessel. "I believe this Expedition will be the most extreme of any expedition I have ever done before, due to the relentless exposure to the wet, the sun and the cold; sleep deprivation; and other factors, like the catamaran capsizing and having to right the vessel solo," Bertish said.

This new world record-setting expedition follows Bertish's remarkable legacy of extreme feats and world first's, including being the first person to paddle into giant waves at Peahi - Jaws in Hawaii in 2000, his 93-day solo, stand-up paddle across the Atlantic in 2017 and a 49-day solo wing-foil journey across the Pacific in 2022. Each challenge has combined elite athleticism with philanthropic give-back goals, raising funds and awareness for ocean conservation, education and climate action worldwide. With all of his previous adventures, his crafts still had the luxury of a tiny cabin to act as a shelter and gain respite from the elements when things got cold, wet and wild.

This is why Bertish believes the TransCat Expedition 2026 will be his most perilous yet. Bertish will have no reprieve from the elements, facing open-ocean conditions around the clock for more than three weeks, and he must sail the catamaran solo, 24/7, while also being capable of righting his catamaran solo in the event of a capsize.

With final preparations under way, Bertish invites global audiences to follow and support this epic ocean adventure. The TransCat Expedition 2026 represents not only a bold physical challenge but a story of courage, perseverance, refinement and resilience in pursuit of meaningful impact.

This expedition is made possible in part through the support of its new main sponsor, AD Ports Group, whose partnership helps advance the mission of ocean conservation, sustainability and global education. To support, track the journey and learn more about the TransCat Expedition 2026, visit transcatexpedition.com.

"As Sir David Attenborough said, 'When we save the ocean, we save the world!' We all need to take collective action for a sustainable future," Bertish remarked. "Every small step and action counts; we can only accomplish this together!"