SAILING NEWS
News 16
109 days after setting out, disabled
ALL ALONE: Geoff concentrates on his record-breaking bid HE’S DONE IT: Geoff celebrates after his 109-day journey came to a successful end at Hamble
Geoff conquers
SAILING NEWS pays tribute to the remarkable achievement
of 41-year-old Geoff Holt, the first disabled yachtsman to
single-handedly cirmumnavigate Britain
AT 11:10 on Wednesday September 5, Geoff Holt
Pictures by OnEdition
ghosted across the finish line in light winds at the
mouth of the Hamble and entered the record books as
without his dedicated eight-man backup team
the first disabled yachtsman to circumnavigate Britain.
consisting of a rescue RIB, camper van, and various
Geoff, aged 41, who was paralysed from the breast
other vehicles.
line down in a swimming accident when he was 18,
The patience of many of the support team’s bosses
took 109 days to make the trip. Over 30 pleasure boats
and spouses was stretched as the poor summer led to
and a coastguard helicopter headed out to meet him
what was intended to be a 50-60 day trip extending out
and cheer him and his 15 foot Challenger trimaran,
to over 100. Geoff was under no illusions about the
Free Thinker, over the finish line.
fundamental importance of his support crew: “I’m
Geoff’s trip was beset with difficulties right from the
amazed by the way that these eight people put their
start. Strong winds and a flotilla of spectator and press
whole lives on hold for 100 days so I could fulfil my
craft passing too close, led to the sailor being thrown
dream. It wouldn’t have happened without them, and I
out of his boat just minutes into the attempt start, back
can’t thank them enough.”
in June.
As he reached the Royal Southern Yacht Club in
The overriding emotions for Geoff at this setback
Hamble he expressed his first reactions on entering the
were fear, frustration and embarrassment, as due to an
record books:
equipment issue, he was left face down in the water
“I’m just flabbergasted at the number of people that
and had to be rescued in front of the world’s press. have turned up to see me today,” Geoff said. It’s great
However, the sailor had invested too much time and that the national media are here, but what touches me
effort in his Personal Everest to let this mishap halt the most are the disabled people who have made a consid-
trip, so he left a few days later with no press fanfare erable effort to get down here.
and a better weather forecast. “There are also a number of wheelchair users who
For the finish the RYA organised a fleet of marshal
have told me that they have been directly inspired to
RIBs and PWCs, just to make sure the spectators’
take up sailing by this, and that alone makes it all
EASY DOES IT: It wasn’t all plain sailing for Geoff, who overcame excitement didn’t get the better of them again.
worthwhile.” Geoff is a former Trustee of RYA
the frustration of being thrown off his boat at the start of his bid Geoff’s whole trip would not have been possible
Sailability and his trip was primarily designed to raise
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