Last year Geoff Holt became the first disabled sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of Great Britain - and just what an inspiration his epic voyage proved is shown in the current issue of the RYA Sailability magazine Foghorn.
Two of his keenest supporters, Juliet Prentice and Alan Thomas, were so inspired by Geoff's Personal Everest challenge that they are now both avid sailors.
Juliet, 43, is a visual artist living in Tiverton, Devon, who discovered sailing two years ago, when rheumatoid arthritis stopped her cross country running. She races a Challenger or Access 303 at her local sailing club in Wimbourne.
She learned about Geoff Holt's Personal Everest through the internet and tracked him down during his stopover at Bude.
“When I met Geoff we didn't stop talking for hours. I found him so utterly inspiring and wanted to support him. I kept in touch throughout his challenge and went to welcome him back at the end of his trip,” she said.
Juliet's enthusiasm drove her to enter the 2007 Dartmouth regatta. She raced an Access 303 finishing first in her class. The experience of sea sailing was so exciting Juliet jumped at the opportunity, offered by an instructor at her sailing club, to go on a Competent Crew course at the UKSA centre on the Isle of Wight.
She contacted Geoff who was delighted to lend his lightweight wheelchair - essential for the 38ft yacht that was to be home for the next week. Juliet can stand and walk a little so was able to take the helm and act as skipper on a number of occasions.
“There is such a sense of freedom and movement out on the water. Everyone is an equal - the stereotyped disability label goes away. I loved the course and would do it all over again tomorrow,” she said.
“My advice to anyone who is thinking of taking up sailing is to go for it despite any anxieties. In my opinion the positives far outweigh any negatives.”
Alan, 42, lives in Llanboiddy in Carmarthenshire and has Cerebellar Ataxia, affecting balance and co-ordination. Alan was a dedicated follower of Geoff, meeting him at four of the West Wales stopovers which often involved long car journeys. He was also at Hamble to welcome Geoff home.
Alan had some experience of kayaking but was encouraged by Geoff to have a go at sailing. The local boat club at Towy in Carmarthen had a Challenger trimaran that Alan was able to use. He went along to the club and met Glyn Copeland, an experienced RYA Instructor and acquaintance of Geoff who has worked alongside many disabled sailors.
Alan can walk short distances unaided and finds the Challenger an easy boat to get into and sail. He has recently tried an Artemis 20 - a fast stable monohull with large spinnaker. It was a thrilling sail but Alan prefers to stick with the Challenger for now.
“I find sailing very calming and enjoy the freedom of movement I can achieve on a boat. I would encourage any disabled person to have a go and not to be nervous. Starting off seems to be the hardest step but once you've achieved that it's all plain sailing,” he said.
“Both Alan and Juliet became very important to me as I battled my way around the UK,” said Geoff Holt. “They exemplify what my Personal Everest was all about and I am thrilled that both of these ardent fans are now great friends and very keen sailors!”
For more information see Foghorn Summer 2008
