Geoff Holt (sailor)

Geoffrey Trevor Marden Holt MBE, DL (born 24 February 1966) is an English sailor from Portsmouth, Hampshire. Paralysed in an accident at the age of eighteen, in 2007 he became the first quadriplegic yachtsman to sail solo around Great Britain.[1]

Geoff Holt
Born (1966-02-24) 24 February 1966
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
Known forThe first solo circumnavigation of Britain by a quadriplegic yachtsman and his activisms for equality of those with physical disabilities.
SpouseElaine Holt
ChildrenTim Holt
Websitewww.geoffholt.com

In September 2007, Holt completed his 1,500 sail around the UK in his 15 ft trimaran dinghy "Freethinker" becoming the first severely disabled person to make the journey. In December 2007 he was named BBC South Sports Personality of the Year.[2]

In 2008, Holt wrote his autobiography "Walking on Water".

In December 2009 he set out to cross the Atlantic Ocean on his yacht the Impossible Dream, aiming to become the first quadriplegic to do so.[3] He succeeded in this 2,700 mile crossing, arriving on 7 January 2010.[4]

Holt was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.[5]

Holt also won the title of Yachting Journalist Association (YJA) Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year for 2010.[6] Of this award, he said “For me this is the knighthood of sailing.″ [7]

In 2012 Holt was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.[8]

References
  1. Holt, Geoff (2008). Walking on Water: a voyage around Britain and through life. Woodbridge: Seafarer Books. ISBN 978-1-906266-09-7.
  2. "Geoff Holt is BBC South Sports Personality of the Year 2007". BBC Press Office. BBC. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  3. "geoffholt.com: Personal Atlantic". 10 December 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  4. "Making sailing history". The Independent. London. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 17.
  6. "Geoff Holt crowned Yachtsman of the Year". 12 January 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  7. Laven, Kate (12 January 2011). "Geoff Holt hails Yachtsman of the Year award as knighthood of sailing". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  8. "Deputy Lieutenant Commissions".


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