Chris Bertish Sets Sail on Historic Solo Pacific Crossing to Champion Ocean Conservation and Education

South African adventurer, author, and renowned waterman Chris Bertish has launched what may be his boldest and most challenging expedition to date — the TransCat Expedition 2025: Oceans Without Borders. On June 24, 2025, at precisely 2:34 p.m., Bertish departed from Mission Bay in San Diego, setting off on a solo, unsupported crossing of the Pacific Ocean in a production beach catamaran with no cabin — a feat never before attempted. Fred Pompermayer image The 2,800-nautical-mile journey to Oahu, Hawaii, is expected to take between 18 and 24 days. Bertish will be sailing aboard The Wildcat, a 20-foot, semi-foiling beach catamaran powered solely by wind and solar energy. With no cabin, no kitchen, and no toilet aboard the vessel, the expedition leaves Bertish completely exposed to the elements for nearly three weeks, enduring relentless sun, ocean swells, unpredictable weather, and total isolation — all without a support crew or chase vessel. “This will be my most extreme expedition yet,” said Bertish. “There’s no shelter from the sun, wind, or waves. If the catamaran capsizes, I’ll have to right it myself.” But the TransCat Expedition is more than just a daring test of endurance and seamanship. At its core, the journey...