Atlantic dream: Captain Kevin Oprey (Picture: Dave Monk)

Captain Kevin Oprey enjoys being at the helm of the 150,000-ton Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 on its transatlantic runs. But one day he wants to cross the ocean in a much smaller vessel – and without his 1,200-strong crew.

‘My dream is to sail the Atlantic single-handed in an ocean-going yacht,’ the 61-year-old told me on the bridge of QM2, days after the ship came to the aid of a Canadian woman on her 83rd day of trying the same crossing in a seven-metre rowing boat.

Captain Oprey said the call to help 34-year-old Mylène Paquette came out of the blue and he and head office had to check out the story before diverting the ship to supply the lone sailor with a replacement satellite radio and a sea anchor to help maintain her position at night, as well as gifts…