About Geoff Holt

Yachtsman, Ambassador & Motivational Speaker

Geoff was paralysed in a swimming accident in 1984 and uses a wheelchair. In 1995 he became the inaugural Chairman of RYA Sailability. In 2007 he became the first severely disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain. In 2009 he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted. He was awarded an MBE for “Services to Disabled Sailing” in 2010 and named ‘Yachtsman of the Year’ shortly after. He was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2012. He is a Council member of the RNLI. He is patron and ambassador for several charities for people with disabilities.

Geoff has 20 years experience in marketing & PR working for international accountancy firms Deloitte & Coopers & Lybrand. He holds a degree in Antiques and Auctioneering. He is the author of ‘Walking on Water’ and is a professional speaker. He is the founder of Wetwheels, an organisation that takes disabled people to sea in purpose-built, fully accessible motor boats.

Geoff’s News

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10 years of Wetwheels

10 years of Wetwheels

This year, 2021, Wetwheels celebrates our 10th anniversary. From humble beginnings we have come a long way in the past decade and, as the Founder of...

Wetwheels Texas?

Wetwheels Texas?

Now home from our trip to Galveston/Houston (Texas) to investigate interest in taking Wetwheels to the USA, I thought I would share our week in the...

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23 hours ago
Geoff Holt MBE

And so another Southampton Boat Show comes to a close, I calculated this is my 35th consecutive show (allowing for Covid). Thanks to all of our Wetwheels Foundation team of crew and volunteers and special thanks to my work colleague Row - it's her last day today after 3 great years. We wish her well in her new adventure..! ๐Ÿ‘  ... See MoreSee Less

And so another Southampton Boat Show comes to a close, I calculated this is my 35th consecutive show (allowing for Covid). Thanks to all of our Wetwheels Foundation team of crew and volunteers and special thanks to my work colleague Row - its her last day today after 3 great years. We wish her well in her new adventure..! ๐Ÿ‘ Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks Row!!! Enjoy your new adventure!!

All the best to Row for great success in her next venture. Thank you for your warmth and energy on all the trips we've had with you. Xx

And a very humble thank you to you, Geoff, for your extraordinary achievement in growing Wetwheels and giving families like ours entry to experiences we'd never have access to.

And we’ve just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary which have all clashed with boat Southampton Boat Show.!!!!

Thank you Row and congratulations on your next adventure. We look forward to hearing all about it. John and Angie HB

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4 days ago
Geoff Holt MBE

Really lovely to hear that my old boat FREETHINKER that I sailed around UK in 2007 (blimey, 16 years ago) is still going strong and last weekend won the Challenger Class Association Community National Championships. Congratulations to Chi Chian Wu for sailing such a blinding regatta - just look at those points (10 points in an 8 race regatta). And those in the know will get the irony of Chi winning the Curtis Cup, named after my greatest racing adversary, and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, Kev Curtis - he will be delighted when I tell him. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ ... See MoreSee Less

Really lovely to hear that my old boat FREETHINKER that I sailed around UK in 2007 (blimey, 16 years ago) is still going strong and last weekend won the Challenger Class Association Community National Championships. Congratulations to Chi Chian Wu for sailing such a blinding regatta - just look at those points (10 points in an 8 race regatta). And those in the know will get the irony of Chi winning the Curtis Cup, named after my greatest racing adversary, and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, Kev Curtis - he will be delighted when I tell him. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘Image attachment
2 months ago
Geoff Holt MBE

Happy place (cue fish puns) ๐ŸŸ๐ŸŽฃ๐Ÿ˜Ž ... See MoreSee Less

Happy place (cue fish puns) ๐ŸŸ๐ŸŽฃ๐Ÿ˜Ž

19 CommentsComment on Facebook

Geoff Holt a few of mine from earlier in the week ๐Ÿ‘

I cod, but I won't ๐Ÿคช

You perching in your normal plaice? Looks a soleless hobby to me

The best plaice to be xx

I can’t think of a good … line.

Cos there’s no F in cod I’m a lonely sole with an empty plaice and nothing to fillet .

I flounder around in my boat.

There is a time and a place

Not a sole around !! ๐Ÿ˜€

This is Brill, I am a dab hand at these fish puns, it must be a fluke .

Do I see a ray of sunshine?

Are you trying to test us on porpoise (yes I know it’s not a fish so disqualified).

You wouldn’t catch me making fish puns, it’s a load of pollocks!

Nice to see you perched ready for a catch.

I'm sure Ernest Hemingway wrote a book about you, M'Lord.

It’s all about the bass…

No Need to Carp on about it Geoff ๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†

No better plaice like that Geoff lol

Wahhooo ๐ŸŽฃโค๏ธ

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Testimonials

Some Kind Words About Geoff’s Work

โ€œExposing our R&D staff to new ideas and challenging accepted thinking is part of our continuing commitment to be innovation leaders. Your insights and personal story were an inspiration to all who attended.โ€

Syngenta

โ€œGeoff had the whole audience fully engaged โ€“ he was highly professional and motivating and we would recommend him to anyone looking for a fantastic speaker.โ€

J.P. Morgan

โ€œHis story is truly inspirational and really caught the imagination of the whole room. His drive, spirit and determination, delivered in a very factual way, had the whole audience mesmerised for the whole session.โ€

M&S Money

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