Geoff Holt back on the water

British circumnavigation re-starts after three weeks of weather delays

Quadraplegic sailor Geoff Holt, who is attempting to circumnavigate Britain, is back on the water at last, after being weatherbound in Abersoch, North Wales for more than three weeks.

Weather conditions were suitable for Geoff to sail on Wednesday morning and he made good progress through Bardsley Sound and into Caernarfon Bay, stopping at Morfa Nefyn.  Weather permitting, Geoff will sail on to Holyhead Thursday.

Geoff, 41, who is paralysed from the breast line down as the result of a swimming accident when he was 18, is attempting to be the first disabled person to sail around the coast of Great Britain. Geoff left Southampton on 20th May, but his round Great Britain attempt has been severely hampered by the unusual weather conditons over the past few weeks and Geoff and his team have been forced to wait in Abersoch until the weather and sailing conditions have been suitable for Geoff to recommence his ‘Personal Everest’.

Not only a feat of human endeavour,  Geoff’s journey is a complicated logistical effort as the schedule is completely dependent on tides and weather. In addition, the practicalities of launching and recovering the dinghy on a daily basis, plus the added difficulty of wheelchair accessible accommodation in remote areas have tested  the team to the limit.

Two Motor homes and a Land Rover equipped with a winch and overhead crane hoist for lifting Geoff and his boat out of the water, travel by road, meeting Geoff and his support crew at the end of each day.

Geoff’s wife Elaine, a former nurse, is part of the support team  and  drives one of the motor homes between ports, accompanied by their 5 year old son, Timothy, who cheers his Dad in to each port and who has become the team’s ‘official’ photographer.

Geoff’s Personal Everest Project has been made possible by sponsorship from  law firm Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons, who are providing the funds to ensure that Geoff has the necessary back-up team and equipment to make his Personal Everest attempt safe and efficient.

For more information: http://www.personaleverest.com