Geoff Holt Conquers Personal Everest
Quadriplegic sailor Geoff Holt successfully completed hisPersonal Everest quest to become the first disable person to sail aroundGreat Britain on 5 September when his trimaran passed the South Cardinal buoyin Southampton Water 109 days after setting off. He had sailed 1,455 miles, stopped at 51 ports, and spent 58days weather bound during one of the worst summers for weather in British history.He was accompanied throughout the journey by a fully crewed support RIB andadditional team members following in three road vehicles, including his wifeand five year old son.
His achievement does much to raise public awareness of the RYA Sailability charity of which he is a staunch supporter and has inspired many people, disabled or otherwise.
The voyage began inauspiciously on 20 May when Geoff’s craft was overturned by the wakes of spectator and media boats attending his departure and was delayed by up to three weeks at a time when inclement weather closed in on the Welsh leg of the journey. The trip was originally scheduled to take 70 days. However, perseverance paid off and Geoff was able to claw back some of the lost time by sailing up to 68 miles in one 13 hour day, another record for a quadriplegic sailor.
Geoff Holt’s Personal Everest challenge was made possible by sponsorship from the law firm Blake Lapthorne Tarlo Lyons.
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