Geoff Holt, from Southampton, England, left Lanzarote Dec. 10 and arrived yesterday, Jan. 7, to become the first quadriplegic sailor to complete a solo voyage across the Atlantic.
Holt had to make unscheduled stops in Cape Verde Islands, and refuel offshore in Antigua, and had some mechanical issues, and light winds for much of the voyage, but his boat, Impossible Dream, with carer and media person, arrived in Cane Garden Bay on time per his revised schedule. He did all his own sailing in the 60ft (18m) purpose-built catamaran.
He told BBC News: ‘It’s fantastic, it’s absolutely wonderful to be back after 25 years to sail across the Atlantic Ocean, it is quite emotional…This has been years in the planning. It has been my dream to sail back across the Atlantic and I have only gone and done it.’
Holt has limited use of his arms and hands and used a hydraulic push button technology to sail the vessel on the 28-day voyage. He broke his neck while diving into shallow water and has used a wheelchair ever since. To read more, visit Geoff’s blog and web site.
Our congratulations and wishes for an enjoyable stay in the British Virgin Islands.