Fareham quadriplegic sailor completes circumnavigation of Britain
Geoff Holt, who is paralysed from the chest down, spent four weeks at sea
A Quadriplegic sailor from Fareham has completed a groundbreaking circumnavigation of Britain.
Geoff Holt MBE DL, who was left paralysed from the chest down after a swimming accident 40 years ago, undertook the 1,800 mile journey to raise funds and awareness for the Wetwheels Foundation, his charity dedicated to providing disabled individuals with access to the sea.
This expedition, which took four weeks to complete, included stops at 19 ports across the UK and was designed to break down barriers for disabled people and highlight their capabilities.
The Wetwheels Foundation, with HRH The Princess Royal as its patron, offers unique opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people of all ages to access the water in custom-designed boats.
These boats allow wheelchair users to actively participate in steering and seamanship, fostering an inclusive and empowering environment.
The funds raised from his journey will be used to build four new Wetwheels boats, which will provide life-changing experiences to over 5,000 profoundly disabled people each year, expanding the fleet from eight to twelve vessels.
The 58-year-old’s expedition included visits to six existing Wetwheels locations, promoting the charity's mission and encouraging public support. His journey featured stops at accessible ports such as Dover, Portsmouth, Torbay, and Edinburgh, where he and his team raised awareness about Wetwheels' work and the importance of accessibility on the water.
Upon completing his voyage, Geoff expressed his gratitude and emphasised the significance of proving that physical limitations do not define one’s potential.
"This year I marked 40 years in a wheelchair after being paralysed from the chest down.
“The sea has always been my salvation since my accident, and somewhere I can forget about my disability. That’s why I have spent my life sharing this passion and proving to other profoundly disabled people that barrier-free boating is possible for them too.”
He thanked the ports, people, and places that supported his journey.
He added: "My biggest hope is we can inspire more disabled people to join us for an experience on one of our boats, but to do this, we need to keep raising money to achieve my dream of acquiring another four Wetwheels boats, making a total of 12 around the UK.
"Hopefully, by demonstrating that a quadriplegic, 40 years paralysed from the chest down, still with the ability to achieve his dreams will inspire more disabled people to find out about Wetwheels and support the amazing work we do.”
In 2007, he became the first severely disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain. In 2009, he was the first quadriplegic to sail across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted. These accomplishments earned him an MBE for Services to Sailing and the title of ‘Yachtsman of the Year.’
In 2011, he founded the Wetwheels Foundation to enable disabled people to access the sea in purpose-built, state-of-the-art motor boats. The charity’s mission is to provide barrier-free boating experiences and inspire more disabled individuals to explore the sea.
You can find more information on Geoff Holt’s journey and donate by visiting his webpage.