Chef Martin Wishart on his plans to sail the Atlantic to raise money for Parkinson's charity

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart is preparing to set forth on a journey, sailing across the Atlantic to raise funds for The Cure Parkinsons Trust.

Along with four crew members Lindsay Henderson, Rupert Jenkins, Kenneth Leask and Duncan Lonie, the chef will depart from Portugal on November 11th, following the West African coastline down to Gran Canaria before heading south west to St Lucia. 

By completing their journey, which will take four weeks, total 3,500 miles, and require sailing for 12 hours in daylight and 12 hours in the dark everyday, the team are hoping to raise £40,000 for the charity.

The cause is close to the chef's heart, as his mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a decade ago. The charity, rather than seeking symptomatic relief solutions, is committed to finding a cure, which is why the chef is supporting it.

"I have witnessed the pain, frustration and constant battle this debilitating disease brings to individuals, and those around them," the chef said on his fundraising page.

"So this year, to mark the 20th anniversary of my restaurant I would like to do my bit, by raising money for The Cure Parkinson's Trust by achieving a personal goal of mine: sailing across the Atlantic Ocean."

Martin Wishart and crew
Martin Wishart and (part of) his sailing crew: 

Fish is on the menu 

The chef told The Scotsman that he has been sailing for seven years now, and that his biggest concerns "will be the long distances and being away from land and making sure we have all the provisions; fuel, food, water and power, on top of the logistics."

He said: "The route I am taking is well established but does have its challenges too." 

Also celebrating the 20th anniversary of his eponymous and award-winning Edinburgh restaurant, the chef said he would be cooking fresh food every day - including an abundance of his most prized ingredients from the sea. 

Click here if you'd like to support Martin Wishart's cause

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor 19th September 2019

Chef Martin Wishart on his plans to sail the Atlantic to raise money for Parkinson's charity