About

Geoff’s Biography

This is Geoff’s story

Geoff Holt had already accomplished much by the time he was eighteen years old. Geoff had sailed across the Atlantic Ocean three times, completed several solo voyages and sailed over 30,000 nautical miles. And then his life changed. All hopes, dreams and expectations of earning his livelihood as a professional yachtsman were destroyed after diving into the Caribbean Sea and breaking his neck. Geoff spent a year in hospital and then, with characteristic spirit, he retrained in a different career and went on to lead the marketing department of an international firm of chartered accountants for 12 years. Geoff later became a qualified auctioneer and valuer (specializing in early European ceramics) but eventually returned to his first love of sailing.

Geoff entered the history books in 2007 when he sailed solo around Great Britain.

In January 2010, Geoff became the first quadriplegic to sail unassisted across the Atlantic. The 3,000mile journey took four weeks to complete sailing a purpose-built 60ft catamaran ‘Impossible Dream’.

Recognition of Geoff’s achievements came swiftly. He was voted BBC South Sports Personality of the Year (2007); short-listed for Yachtsman of the Year (2008); received a British Airways Great Briton Award and the RYA Francis Elkin Award (2009). In June 2010, Geoff was awarded an MBE for services to disabled sailing and then in early 2011, Geoff received the coveted YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year that Geoff considers the ‘Knighthood of Yachting.’ In November 2015, Geoff won the presitigous business award in recognition of his work as founder and CEO of Wetwheels – the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK.

Geoff is passionate about creating opportunities for others facing their own challenges in life through a long association with the Paralympics and the charity RYA Sailability of which he was the inaugural Chairman and Trustee commencing in 1995.

Geoff represented the UK on the International Disabled Sailing Committee and was Chairman of the RYA’s Paralympic Steering Committee that selected the Gold medal winning team in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. He was a member of the current Paralympic Steering Committee who selected athletes for the 2012 Paralympic sailing competition. Geoff is a member of the RYA Council as voted for by the membership and he is also a member of the RYA’s Board. He has competed in sailing events successfully himself too representing Great Britain in Australia and America winning a bronze medal on both occasions. Geoff was also the first person to gain a powerboat licence while using a wheelchair.

Geoff’s autobiography ‘Walking on Water’ was published in 2008 to wide acclaim. He also writes monthly columns in sailing journals and is a presenter on BBC Radio Solent’s H2O Show alongside Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Most recently Geoff has designed and built Wetwheels, the world’s first wheelchair accessible powerboat so disabled people can have an opportunity to try powerboating. Based at Portsmouth, the 30ft catamaran regularly takes groups of disabled people for rides in the Solent though the Wetwheels Charitable Fund. In June 2012, Wetwheels and Geoff took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames. Geoff instigated the formation of a new charity, the Disabled Powerboating Trust that funds powerboating opportunities for disabled people and he has become its first Ambassador. Geoff is passionate about “giving back” and supporting community and charitable initiatives where possible. He is also Patron of Southern Spinal Injuries Trust; Rose Road Association; Lymington Sailability; New Forest Sailability; Cowes Sailability and Le Tournoi (Jersey).