Later this month, in a project called ‘Ghostship’, Chris Foster will retrieve a rare boat hull from a field in Switzerland and pilot it back to the UK, solely on electric power, from where he will embark on intrepid expeditions. It’s the first chapter in a bold plan that will one day take Chris back to Patagonia, the place where his love of wild adventure first began.
Chris Foster and Ghost
Chris Foster, 44 and from Sedgefield, is a keen cyclist who spent time exploring Patagonia 20 years ago, and vowed to return. Chris worked in the NHS as an operating department practitioner (ODP), and pursued his dream in his spare time, always with the intention of returning to South America under sail. However, he suffered a catalogue of major injuries that included broken leg, pelvis, ankle, thumbs, back, and more recently, neck.
During his recovery from these setbacks, Chris left the health service to retrain as a boat builder, the only way he’d ever afford to sail to Patagonia. He moved to Norfolk and lived off-grid in a tired old wooden boat that barely stayed afloat, cutting costs while he learned the skills he’d need. Eventually, he bought a seaworthy boat to kit out for the trip - but just before slipping the lines, he broke his neck in a cycling accident. Recovery was long, and with no way to work or sail, he was forced to sell the boat to keep afloat financially and reassess how the dream might still be possible.
Chris Foster piloting a boat
Chris then discovered ‘GHOST’, an unusual boat that was one of only three of its type ever built - a fast and sturdy sailing yacht designed to challenge traditional methods. To Chris, it presented the perfect opportunity to experiment with his long-term dream of electric sailing. However, the boat was sitting in a field in Switzerland growing mouldy. Chris has now bought GHOST, an unfinished shell, and is about to travel to Basel, where he will move it onto the Rhine and pilot it back to Southampton. The boat will be powered by two electric outboard motors on the river, supplemented by a special kite once at sea.
The idea to fly a kite to power the boat across the Channel came from a shared belief that things can be done differently. Professor Richard Hixson from Darlington, a passionate advocate for sustainable change within the NHS, saw potential in what Chris was building with GHOST and asked if he’d help show what low-impact innovation could really look like for the NHS. That spark led Chris to specialist brand LibertyKite, and together they set out to explore kite boating to see if its simple technology still has a place in modern adventure, and maybe in international shipping too.
Chris Foster in his workshop
Once in the UK, Chris plans to ready GHOST to embark on a series of UK based adventures, preparation for his long-term objective of returning to Patagonia. In doing that, he aims to inspire other people who have faced adversity that with resilience, they can still fulfil their dreams. Chris will also demonstrate that global adventure can be undertaken in a responsible and sustainable way.
Chris Foster comments: “Just getting to this moment has been an adventure in itself. I’ve had to draw on every bit of resolve, but I’ve loved the challenges that the Ghostship project has thrown my way. Of course, I’ve got my own goals - Patagonia’s always been on my mind - but more than anything, I want to show others that even after life knocks you down, you can still go after something big. Even if I don’t reach every destination I dream of, I’ll be helping others reach theirs.
“With GHOST, I believe I can travel between the Arctic and Antarctic circles without guzzling diesel - and if I can do that, maybe it pushes others to think a little differently about what’s possible.”
To find out more about the Ghostship project as it progresses, subscribe to The Ghostship - YouTube and follow @Building_The_Ghostship on Instagram.