Sofa To Sailboat
Feb 28, 2026

Sofa To Sailboat

Two crewmates will use a tiny upcycled 50-year-old 'dinghy with a lid', a Leisure 17 sailboat, to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone and unassisted in aid of four charities: Macmillan*, Mind*, MS-UK, and St Helena Hospice.

The skipper, John-Kenneth 'JK' Habbershaw, is a health-retired Emergency Service volunteer. He started the project to assist and focus on his recovery from PTSD while also using the opportunity to spread help and hope to others. He needed to get up off his living room couch, so the 'Sofa To Sailboat' name was born.

Joining him is First Mate Farris Collins, a former Team GB powerlifter and four-time Commonwealth gold medal champion. He is no stranger to pushing himself to the limit; however, this challenge is an entirely new one for him, as he has never sailed before. Forget about "Couch to 5K"; his journey really is from Sofa To Sailboat!

Sofa To Sailboat has teamed up with leading maritime manufacturers to combine new technologies to ensure the crossing is safe while using only renewable energy: wind for the sails and solar power for a rechargeable electric outboard motor.

Our journey has begun. Join Us.

*50% of the Macmillan and Mind donations will be directly allocated by the charities to be used in the North East Essex, and East of England regions.

Supporting

St Helena Hospice
St Helena Hospice

Health | 280919

25%

St Helena Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to local people facing incurable illness in north east Essex, supporting them, their families, friends and carers.

Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support

Health | 261017

25%

At Macmillan, we will do whatever it takes to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can. We’re going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support.

Mind
Mind

Health | 219830

25%

We're Mind, the mental health charity. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

MS-UK
MS-UK

Health | 1033731

25%

MS-UK is here for anyone affected by multiple sclerosis, to empower them to live healthier and happier lives by improving the understanding of MS and providing support where it is needed most.

Updates

Supporters

3

4%

£4,048.00

+ £15.00 Gift Aid

£100,000 target | 3 supporters

Charities Supporting

St Helena Hospice
25%
Macmillan Cancer Support
25%
Mind
25%
MS-UK
25%