Geoff Holt onboard catamaran, The Impossible Dream.
Rotarian Geoff Holt has not only sailed into the record books, but has now been recognised by royalty.
Geoff, a member of the Rotary Club of Hamble Valley, is being made an MBE for his service to disability sailing, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
He became the first disabled person to sail solo around Britain, visiting many Rotary clubs in the process, and smashed records again earlier this year when he became the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
The 44-year-old from Hampshire suffered a swimming accident 25 years ago, which broke his neck and left him paralysed from the chest down. His passion for sailing gives him the freedom to explore the world.
Geoff is overwhelmed and humbled by the honour: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet I don’t think. I feel a bit of a fraud. I do what I do because I love it not for accolade. It seems quite weird to be recognised for it.”
Geoff, as featured in April’s edition of Rotary Today , has supported any initiative, which provides sailing opportunities to other disabled people and was the inaugural chairman of RYA Sailability. He added: “I genuinely believe sailing is one of the few sports if not the only sport that is available to anyone regardless of their ability.”
For more information about Geoff Holt, click here .
