A transatlantic crossing in a sailboat is an undertaking, no matter who you are, or how much offshore sailing you may have on your resume. But one local man was recently part of a dream team that made the crossing under uniquely challenging conditions.

But you know what they say — the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.

For Denmark native Kenneth Madsen, a Bristol resident, avid BYC sailor, and President of sailcloth manufacturer Dimension-Polyant, Inc., 2023 ended on an unforgettable high note. On the second-to-last day of the year he sailed into port at the island of Martinique, part of an eight-man, all-Danish crew supporting the offshore sailing dreams of an old friend, Anders Lehmann.

Growing up in Denmark, Anders was the little brother of Madsen’s best friend, Lars. About 24 years ago, when he was around 30 years old, Anders suffered a tragic diving accident, the aftermath of which left him paralyzed from the neck down.

“He was lucky to survive,” said Madsen, who saw Anders at a Christmas party less than two years after the accident. The two men got into a conversation about what Anders wanted to do with the rest of his life.

“He said he wanted to sail,” said Madsen. “He had some experience racing dinghies, but not a lot. But what he really had was a love of sailing.”

Anders bought himself a pared-down racing boat in Italy and had it transported to Denmark. An engineer by training, he designed systems to modify the boat so he could sail it, controlling the vessel with a wheelchair platform that used the movement of the wheels to steer the boat, guided by a device in his mouth. With that vessel, he brought other people with disabilities on board to discover the joys of sailing. Then, his dream got a little bigger.

“About eight years ago he decided he wanted to make a crossing, but he knew his 38-foot boat wasn’t going to be big enough,” said Madsen. He found a suitable 45’ boat in England — coincidentally one built by Carroll Marine here in Bristol. He named it Wavester, to reflect his love for waves and roadster cars, and had it brought to Denmark to be outfitted for a transatlantic crossing.

This wasn’t any run-of-the-mill outfitting. Despite his tenacity and his achievements, Anders Lehmann’s medical challenges are significant. In addition to having no use of his arms and legs, he is also on a ventilator. Meeting his fundamental physical needs would be a big part of the operation. Because moving Anders below deck was not feasible, the cockpit was fitted with a retractable cover, dubbed “the doghouse”, that he could sleep in. During the day, it provided shelter from the blazing sun as well. Anders also designed a system that would convert his wheelchair into a bed, so he could lay down and take the weight off his body while still staying in his chair.

Anders also assembled a crew of multitaskers. In addition to his role as captain, he signed on his brother Lars, friend Madsen, and another friend, Peter Olivarius to accompany him on the journey. The remaining four spots were taken by sailors who were also licensed to serve as caregivers: skipper Toke Sode Lundberg, and crewmen Børge Madsen, Klaus Hjerl Lillelund, and Tobias Hedegaard Lipp.

“These helpers were unbelievable,” said Madsen of Anders’ caregivers. “Seldom have I seen such care for others. We all took part in sailing but they made sure he was fed, hydrated, and had all medical care necessary.”

Making the journey
The crew left Denmark in July and went to Spain where the boat stayed for a bit while the team made final preparations. They sailed to the Canary Islands in November, and Ken joined them in early December. They set off for the crossing on Dec. 6, but the trade winds did not cooperate.

Marcel Van Triest, a friend of Madsen’s who also happens to be a world class professional weather router with races like the Ocean Race and Route du Rum to his credit, volunteered guide to guide the team across. Effectively a ninth crew member who served onshore, Van Triest sent them far south to avoid a large, so-called “wind hole” on their planned route.

They ended up taking a three-day pit stop in the Cape Verde Islands, an unplanned but enjoyable diversion. But there was still no wind once they left there, so they went far south of Martinique to the 12th parallel before heading north, along a route Madsen described as a “big banana,” for a distance of 3,550 nautical miles.

The total crossing took 20 days and 15 hours of sailing time. It was a little longer than the first time Madsen made a transatlantic crossing, but there were also so many more moving parts.

“We had some great sailing,” Madsen said. “But our first obligation was to stay safe and keep Anders safe.”

“When we finally saw Martinique and we knew it was a done deal, instead of celebrating his accomplishment Anders said how glad he was that he had the ability to take other people, with disabilities like him, out and give them the experience of sailing,” said Madsen. “That’s what gives him joy, and shows what kind of a human being he is.”

Wavester will be sailed back to Denmark in April, where it will be reappointed as a daysailer that Anders can use to fulfill his plans to take others with disabilities sailing, in Danish waters.

Madsen, acknowledging how many moving parts were required to make this crossing successful, is grateful it all came together. And despite his many challenges, he considers Anders “probably the best captain I have ever sailed with,” due to his unwavering determination.

“I’ve gotten such joy from helping see Anders’ dream come true,” he said. “What a fantastic experience.”