Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

Quadriplegic adventurer Geoff Holt MBE DL sets sail on challenge to circumnavigate the UK

by Wetwheels Foundation 13 May 2024 15:23 UTC
Wetwheels leaving St Katharines Dock © Wetwheels Foundation

After months of planning and preparation, quadriplegic adventurer Geoff Holt MBE DL set sail from St Katherine's Dock, London today in a record breaking first of its kind challenge.

The journey will see Geoff and his team circumnavigate the UK coastline over the next 4-6 weeks, calling at 17 accessible ports across the country with a goal of raising £1.2m for registered charity, Wetwheels Foundation via the team's Just Giving page.

Funds raised from the challenge will allow for four new Wetwheels boats, offering life-changing experiences to over 5,000 of the most profoundly disabled people each year, and will be Geoff's final disability adventure.

Geoff has dedicated his life to providing access to the sea for disabled people, demonstrating that there are no limits to what we can achieve regardless of physical capability.

The Challenge:

Geoff undertakes his final adventure in a disability accessible Wetwheels boat, making 17 key stops to inspire and fundraise for more Wetwheels boats. The route is estimated to take him 4-6 weeks and he will have a small support team following the journey.

The team will head west along the South Coast, calling in at ports to help raise awareness of his adventure. He will also take time to call in at the eight current Wetwheels locations that are responsible for delivering thousands of boat trips around the UK each year to disabled people.

Scheduled visits:

  • London
  • Dover
  • Portsmouth
  • Torbay
  • Falmouth
  • Newlyn (refuel only)
  • Milford Haven
  • Holyhead
  • Bangor
  • Oban
  • Tobermory (refuel only)
  • Ullapool
  • Scrabster
  • Peterhead
  • Edinburgh
  • North Shields
  • Whitby
  • Grimsby
  • Lowestoft
  • Chatham
  • London

Commenting on his final Wetwheels challenge, Goeff Holt MBE DL said:

"Today is the start of the next chapter in my life and possibly my biggest challenge to date. Having spent 40 years in a wheelchair, paralysed from the chest down, the sea has been my salvation, the freedom and independence I get when I am afloat, I can forget about my disability. I have devoted most of my life to promoting the opportunities and benefits sailing offers disabled people and now this is my opportunity to spread that message throughout the United Kingdom.

I am very honoured that the Lord Mayor of London himself, Michael Manielli, has taken time out of his busy schedule to officially start the challenge, and where better, than Tower Bridge in our capital city of London. I am really looking forward to the next few weeks although I am very much aware of the challenges ahead, not least the physical and mental impact on myself on the boat for up to 8 hours a day but also the massive logistical challenge for our shore team as we travel around the UK.

My biggest hope is we can inspire more disabled people to join us for an experience on Wetwheels. Hopefully this will also inspire people to raise money to achieve my dream of acquiring another four Wetwheels boats, making a total of 12 around the UK.

The 1,500 mile journey will be a test for not only my physical endurance but also a mental challenge as I juggle the logistics of navigating through some of the most dangerous and congested waters in the world.

Only when I cross the finish line back in London and we hit our fundraising targets, will I allow myself to relax. Hopefully, by demonstrating that a quadriplegic, 40 years paralysed from the chest down, still has the ability to achieve his dreams will inspire more disabled people to find out about Wetwheels and support the amazing work we do."

The Lord Mayor of London, Michael Mainelli, joined Geoff and his team as they set off from St. Katharine's Dock today and commented: "I'm delighted to see Geoff and his team set off on this remarkable challenge for an inspiring cause in which my mayoral theme Connect to Prosper Experiment Series will play a part. Throughout the journey, Geoff and the team will be sampling and collecting microplastics along the UK coastline as part of the Suzuki Clean Ocean Project.

As one of the greatest threats to our oceans and marine wildlife which is worth more than $1.5tn to world economies per year, it's integral that the City of London is at the forefront of tackling the challenge of microplastics and providing a hub for thought leaders to connect. Wetwheels' work at the forefront of scientific advances that drive improvements of our environment while meeting its incredible objective of opening the water for those who otherwise are unable to access it, is an inspiration to us all."

Related Articles

Meet the Grand Soleil Blue
The ultimate weekender with a sustainable build Grand Soleil Yachts has taken its first step on a new path with the launch of its first true weekender, the Grand Soleil Blue. Posted today at 1:55 pm
OOC delivers $133 billion for ocean action
Urgent challenges remain to meet global deadlines in a pivotal year for the ocean The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has mobilized $133 billion in funding for ocean action over the past decade, according to a new report launched today by World Resources Institute (WRI) to mark the conference's 10th anniversary. Posted on 29 Apr
Ella Hibbert starts Solo Arctic Circumnavigation
A record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic British sailor embarks on a record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic and spark global climate action. Posted on 29 Apr
MMAG calls for vigilance and reporting
Seasonal alert and call to action survey for all mariners and offshore sailors As spring awakens in the Northern Hemisphere, a powerful migration is under way - not just of boats returning north from winter sailing grounds in the Caribbean, but of whales traveling thousands of miles. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr
85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo drawing near
Preparations are progressing well for the sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk The date for the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) fleet sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk is drawing ever nearer, and preparations are progressing well for this, the Dynamo 85 return. Posted on 27 Apr
Grand Soleil Blue: Finally in the water
Designed for those who want to enjoy sailing in total independence The official video of the Grand Soleil BLUE is now online: a yacht that redefines the concept of contemporary sailing: free, spontaneous, elegant, and sustainable. Posted on 26 Apr
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted on 25 Apr
A+T Instruments 10th Anniversary Celebrations
"We set out to make the World's Best Yacht Instruments" Globally recognised yacht instruments company A+T Instruments is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of successful growth by pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service. Posted on 25 Apr
Leopard Catamarans unveils Leopard 46
This innovative sailing catamaran marks a bold advancement in design, technology, and comfort Leopard Catamarans, a world-renowned leader in sailing and power catamarans, is excited to introduce its latest model: the Leopard 46. Posted on 25 Apr
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range