The Big C (V2!) is back in the water! Andrew's preparations for his next World Record attempt are going well

Adventurer and friend of Start Software Andrew Bedwell has been video-calling us from his new boat, Big C V2!

Andrew with Big C V2 at Whitehaven, UK

Andrew has rebuilt Big C from scratch using a new design, new materials and a new approach to weight distribution.  It is still tiny - but there is (slightly) more room inside for his navigational aids and for food.

His sea trials at the weekend were a great success and the boat only needs a few minor adjustments in time for his journey to start in May 2026.

We're supporting Andrew right up to the point where he sets off - to break the World Record for the shortest boat to cross the Atlantic (Big C is only 1m long...) he has to be completely unsupported.  That means 3 months at sea eating only the food he can take with him (or catch) and drinking water made by hand-cranking a desalination unit.

Watch this space for more photos, videos and news.

Away Day brings Traction to our software teams

Our Away Day in central Birmingham brought our Start and CTT software leaderships teams together to discuss plans and challenges.

Joining us was the inspirational Ian Groves from Start Tech who brought his passion for the EOS/Traction business development process to us over lunch.

Andrew listening to Ian enthusing about his Traction journey

Dan & Catherine

Mickey & Dan

Might Traction be the next step for Start Software?

Our CTO Jack

Jack, Andrew, Dan

Dan & Catherine

We used "Spaces" at the Lewis Building for our Away Day - recommended

Discussing Support over a coffee

Dan, Jack & Robin studying financial forecasts

Mickey, Catherine, Dan, Andrew

Also - a big thanks to our good friend and inspiration Andrew Bedwell (https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-C-Atlantic-Challenge-100082612007911/?locale=en_GB) for sending us this video!

Big C V2 up-close and personal! Robin & Catherine attend Andrew Bedwell's talk in Cheltenham

Robin & Catherine took their chance on Thursday to see Andrew Bedwell's new boat - Big C V2 - in person.  Andrew was delivering a talk to the Gloucestershire Property Forum in Cheltenham, explaining his love for adventures and the reasons he is trying again to cross the Atlantic ocean in the shortest boat ever.

Andrew is full flow - as inspiring and entertaining as ever

Andrew's presentation being introduced

Start Software are the main sponsors for Big C V2

Robin, Catherine & Andrew

Look at how small the boat is! Imagine spending 90 days in this

Andrew is raising money for cancer research and all donations are welcome: https://www.gofundme.com/f/solo-sailing-world-record

Remember Andrew Bedwell and the "Big C"? He is trying again in May 2025 to break an incredible world record

Andrew Bedwell is one of those people you meet only once or twice in a lifetime.  Fearless, determined, funny, humble and downright bonkers.  A couple of years ago, Andrew attempted to break the world record for the shortest boat ever to cross the Atlantic.  Not the shortest crossing, mind you, the shortest boat - a vessel that's only just about 1m in length.  Smaller than a bathtub!

Well, the first attempt didn't go to plan but Andrew is trying again this May and has spent two years designing and building his second boat - Big C V2.  We're sponsoring Andrew again here at Start Software and helping him to raise funds for his boat and for for cancer charities.

The boat is taking shape, as you can see, and Andrew will soon be taking it for sea trials and finalising his equipment.  We'll be publishing regular updates now that he's closing in on the attempt, so watch this space!

PS in case you're wondering, it's likely to take Andrew 90 days and he will be completely unsupported whilst at sea

Big C V2 is taking shape! Watch how Andrew Bedwell's second record-breaking boat build is taking shape

Adventurer Andrew Bedwell's second attempt at the world record for the shortest boat to cross the Atlantic is taking shape!  

Andrew is calling this "Big C V2" - an all-aluminium re-design of the original Big C boat, learning from the experience Andrew had after his first launch in May 2023.

Andrew is involved in every step of the design and build

It's great to see the Start Software logo on the boat again! We so enjoyed meeting and helping Andrew during attempt #1 (see https://blog.start-software.com/search?q=Big+C), so nothing was going to stop us from being involved this time, too!

Watch videographer Paul Larkin's video here showing the boat build through to the Southampton Boat Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWvfCQY-ZBc

Andrew has a crowdfunding campaign running to help fund the new build.  With only 6 months or so until the second attempt in May 2025, Andrew needs all the help he can muster to complete the build and sea trials.  Please do contribute if you can: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bigcatlanticchallenge

Judge Rinder and Start Software - what's the connection? It's Andrew Bedwell's latest transatlantic record attempt!

Judge Rinder has been checking out Andrew Bedwell's latest boat design for his world-record transatlantic crossing attempt.  Start Software is supporting Andrew again for his May 2025 attempt to cross the Atlantic in the shortest boat, ever!

If you're on Facebook, you can follow Andrew here https://www.facebook.com/Allgoodfun or via his Big C page, too: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082612007911

Lovely surprise! Adventurer Andrew Bedwell drops into our Telford office for a cup of tea

Remember the incredible Andrew Bedwell and his World Record "Big C Challenge" attempt at crossing the Atlantic in the shortest boat ever?  Start Software/Alpha Tracker were key sponsors and we also built an app for Andrew to use on the crossing.

Andrew in our Telford office

Andrew is working towards another crossing attempt in 2025 and just dropped in to see us and let us know how his plans are progressing.  With a new all-aluminium boat design (which is 6cm longer internally - positively spacious!) and even better preparation, we're sure attempt #2 will be successful.

Watch this space! 

The Big C Atlantic Challenge is underway again! Andrew is building his new boat ready for May 2025

We've been in touch with Andrew Bedwell since his first attempt at crossing the Atlantic in the shortest boat ever didn't go to plan.  Andrew's Big C Atlantic Challenge is underway again - what great news!

Our sponsorship of Andrew's incredible challenge helped him to build and equip his first boat, and Andrew is using the knowledge he gained in his new design.  Panels have been designed and laser-cut this week - and the second iteration of his vessel is starting to take shape.

The 3D jigsaw puzzle begins

We'll keep our blog readers updated as the boat takes shape and we hope to visit Andrew's expedition base as soon as the boat is ready to view.

Watch part 2 of the Big C Tracker story with Robin on the Alpha Anywhere Q&A webinar

Alpha Software's weekly Wednesday webinar told the second part of the story of the apps we have been building for Andrew Bedwell's Big C Atlantic Challenge.

Watch the recording of the webinar here!

Can we build an app for your business?  Get in touch!

Andrew's dream is over - for now. Will we see the Big C float again in 2024?

You might have seen Andrew Bedwell's dreadful news on the TV, in newspapers or online.  His Facebook page has 1000s of followers and makes for tough reading, today.  His dream of crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the shortest-ever boat is over for now.  What a shame!

Andrew has been headline news - but not for the right reasons!

We have been supporting and sponsoring Andrew's Big C Atlantic Challenge and are proud to be associated with the project.  We developed software and apps to help Andrew send messages from mid-Atlantic and for his followers worldwide to track his progress.  

Andrew set off a week early, to take advantage of a good weather window, but had to return to shore after developing a small, fixable leak.  However, after leaving the boat overnight in the harbour he returned to find that it had sunk.  When the crane lifted Big C boat out of the water and over the quayside, a component snapped and the boat crashed to the floor, smashing the hull, and Andrew's dreams, into pieces.

It's such a cruel end to the story for this year - the boat simply isn't fixable in time to make the crossing this summer.  We're sending Andrew all our best wishes and hope he rebuilds to have another go in 2024.  We believe in you Andrew and know you can do it.

Andrew Bedwell & Robin finalising communication plans for the Big C Atlantic Challenge

Robin spoke to Andrew yesterday to finalise his communication plans for the Big C Atlantic Challenge world record attempt.

The staff at Start Software are going to be Andrew's communication team, posting his updates on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram when he's away.  Start Software are the main sponsors for the project with their Alpha Tracker and Alpha Portal logos appearing on the boat and sail.

They will also be monitoring the Big C Tracker app (see https://bigctracker.app) which they have built to show Andrew's progress across the Atlantic!  You can see a video showing how the app was built here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QajFkuzCyds&t=24s

The weird thing was that roles were reversed because Robin was on the water when Andrew called... on his paddleboard!

Andrew in St John's, Newfoundland speaking to Robin in Shrewsbury, UK

Stop press! Andrew has called to say that he is hoping to set off this Saturday - 27 May - nearly a week ahead of schedule.  Click https://bigctracker.app/ to follow Andrew and his updates.

Watch Robin build a messaging app for the Big C Atlantic Challenge on the Alpha Anywhere webinar

Our director Robin featured on this week's Alpha Anywhere webinar hosted by Alpha Software.  

Robin talked about Andrew Bedwell's incredible Big C Atlantic Challenge - his attempt to cross the Atlantic in the shortest boat, ever.  Andrew's Big C boat is only 3 feet 2 inches long (just over 1m) - wow!  

Start Software is building an app for Andrew so that he can send updates from mid-Atlantic every day of his 3-month journey.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QajFkuzCyds

Watch the YouTube video to see how Start are approaching the task.  If you're into app development, technology or mad-cap adventures, you might enjoy it!

Big C is on its way (west not east!) - not long now until the World Record attempt begins

Andrew and his team have packed up the Big C boat into a container and it is on its way to Canada.

Once Big C has arrived, Andrew will be flying out and making his final preparations for his journey back to the UK.  He is hoping to leave St John's on 1 June.  Not long now!

Big C is on its way

Follow all of Andrew's news here on Facebook or via our blog.

Big C on the Irish Sea! Robin visits Andrew and the Big C Atlantic Challenge boat for sea trials off Whitehaven

Andrew Bedwell is finalising the "Big C" boat for his World Record Atlantic Challenge. He is setting off in May - not long now!

On Friday, he took the tiny 1m long vessel into the Irish Sea off Whitehaven for sea trials, and Start Software's director Robin went out on the support boat to help. 

The Big C performed well on a choppy Irish Sea

Robin likes an adventure himself and said that he was green with envy - but mainly with seasickness!

Watch a video of the day's action by clicking above and be sure to like and follow Andrew's Facebook page, too.

The Start Software pods are on! Andrew Bedwell's "Big C" boat is really taking shape

Andrew's boat - the Big C - is really taking shape.  And it's great to see the Start Software pods looking so good.  They are designed to be super-visible helping the 1m long vessel to be visible by other shipping mid Atlantic.

Andrew Bedwell is a true inspiration

Follow all of the Big C news on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082612007911

Andrew has been to see Hugo Vihlen's boat - the current World Record holder - and other Big C Atlantic Challenge news!

Our director Robin had a blast catching up with Andrew Bedwell today, hearing about his World Record attempt's latest news.  Robin grabbed busy Andrew for a 3-minute update from a service station on the A14... 

Start Software is sponsoring Andrew in his attempt to cross the Atlantic (unsupported!) in a sailing boat that's only 1m long - yes that's 3 foot 3 inches, give or take!  Andrew's Big C Atlantic Challenge is raising money for cancer charities and he hopes to shave nearly two feet (60cm) off the existing record held by American Hugo Vihlen (read about Hugo's crossing here).

Andrew's boat will carry Start Software, Alpha Tracker and Alpha Legal/Alpha Portal branding on the side pods.  All of the Start team will be travelling up to meet Andrew and see the boat in action next month during the sea trials.

Follow Andrew's news as he nears the start of his voyage in May by liking and following his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082612007911 or subscribe and follow our blog, here https://blog.start-software.com/search/label/BigCAtlanticChallenge.

First video update from Andrew and his "Big C Atlantic Challenge"

We're sponsoring Andrew Bedwell and his Big C Atlantic Challenge - an incredible World Record attempt to cross the Atlantic in the shortest boat, ever!  He is raising money for cancer charities - a cause which is close to many hearts here in our business.

Director Robin spoke to Andrew this week for an update:

Andrew is preparing himself and his 3'3" boat - yes, it is only 1m long! - now, in preparation for his May 2023 launch.

Follow all of our Big C news here: https://blog.start-software.com/search/label/BigCAtlanticChallenge

Inspirational! We are sponsoring Andrew Bedwell's "Big C Atlantic Challenge" world record attempt

Want to be inspired?  Take a look at Andrew Bedwell's Big C Atlantic Challenge: 

It's an incredible story of a British adventurer attempting to cross the Atlantic ocean in the smallest boat ever.  It is 3'3" long - yes, you read that right, it's just over 1m.  About the size of a large suitcase.  Incredible!

We've decided to sponsor Andrew's Big C boat and our donations will be used to buy some of the electronics that Andrew will be using during his 90-day unsupported crossing.

Here at Start Software we try to be the best.  We want our software - Alpha Tracker, Alpha Legal and others - to lead their fields and we want our staff to be inspired to do the best they can, each and every day they come to work.  That's the first reason we decided to get involved; we hope that a bit of Andrew's energy and determination rubs off on all of us.

The second reason is that the Big C Atlantic Challenge is all about fund-raising for cancer charities, and several members of the team have been touched by cancer in recent years.  It's such an important cause.

Catherine & I got to meet Andrew on Saturday to see the Big C boat.  It's an impressive achievement already, and that's before he's even set off!

Catherine & Andrew chatting

Andrew & Robin shaking hands on the sponsorship deal

We'll be posting regularly as Andrew refines Big C and puts it through sea trials.

Follow Andrew on Facebook or Instagram.