Graduate in world record attempt to cycle Atlantic

A STAFFORDSHIRE University graduate is planning to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a custom-built pedalo – which he designed as part of his final year project.

Mark Byass, 23, who graduated at last week’s Awards Ceremonies with a BEng(Hons) Mechatronics, plans to pedal 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua with teammate Mike Sayer, 26.

The challenge, called Project Torpedalo, is expected to take a world record breaking 38 days and raise £250,000 for charity.

Mark said: “The project is an amalgamation of a few different ideas and started with a plan to pedal across the English Channel, to Paris, but quickly grew into pedalling across the Atlantic.

“A pedalo has only ever made this journey once before, in 1994, taking 111 days. We want to do it in 38 days, which means we will be pedaling around 70 nautical miles a day.

“We will each have to pedal two-hours-on two-hours-off for 24 hours-a-day because someone has to keep watch for hazards. And, because it’s 12 hours pedaling each, we will have to consume 8000 calories and 12 litres of water a day.”

They plan to complete the ocean crossing as part of the Woodvale Challenge trans-Atlantic rowing race in December 2011. The race usually involves around 30 rowing boats – no one has ever competed in a pedalo before.

“We have heard a lot of horror stories from people that have rowed across the Atlantic,” Mark added.

The design of the pedalo was part of Mark’s final year project at Staffordshire University. It will be nine meters long, built mostly of carbon fibre and be able to cruise at around three knots, with a maximum self-propelled speed of seven knots.

Mark said: “The boat is not only our transportation; it is our home for 38 days. We have to take all the food we need for the trip and our water supply is through onboard desalination, powered by solar panels.”

Both crewman work for Bentley Motors and have secured support throughout the company – among other sponsors – to help fund the project.

Mark joined the iconic British car-maker Bentley Motors on a degree sponsored apprenticeship five years ago, straight after leaving school, and has since been heavily involved in the company's charity fundraising schemes.
 
Project Torpedalo is the latest of these, with both crewmen selecting a charity to support: the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Mark said: “My previous fundraising has included endurance events such as the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland, but I’ve never done anything on the scale of this project.”