Atlantic challenge in a Leisure 17
How far offshore would you sail in a small boat? Two friends, John-Kenneth Habbershaw and Courtney Hollyoake are busy preparing their early MK1 Leisure 17, Poppet, for a 3,000 mile unassisted voyage across the Atlantic. The Sofa to Sailboat project aims to raise £50,000 for four charities – MacMillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS-UK and the St Helena Hospice in Colchester.
A marine surveyor and electrician, Habbershaw said he became interested in microcruising having spent the last six years surveying rowing boats for the annual Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
During his research he became inspired by John Adam, and his 1967 single-handed Atlantic crossing in the Leisure 17, Eve. A few years later he made a ‘silly’ offer on a Leisure 17 which is currently being renovated at Titchmarsh Marina at Walton-on-the-Naze.
“At the moment the boat is just a fiberglass tub with a lid and two keels bolted on. I plan to redesign the boat and put in three new bulkheads using NidaCore or foam with epoxy. The companionway will also be chopped out and instead a storm hatch will be put in,” explained Habbershaw, who added that the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted their plans.
“We hope to get the boat finished this year and then sail her next year. Due to time constraints, we’ll either ship or tow the boat to the Canary Islands. We are planning on crossing in December 2021 from either La Gomera or Tenerife over to Antigua, hopefully in around 30-35 days.”
A 24V Torqeedo electric engine will be installed, along with solar panels and lithium batteries to keep the voyage “as green as possible”. Boat parts and equipment will also be reused wherever possible.
Habbershaw, 36, has been sailing for the last 12 years, mainly around the UK coastline and in Australia, where his parents live. Hollyoake, 33, has never sailed before and plans to train as a day skipper before they leave.
Learn more of their adventure at sofatosailboat.co.uk