London, Jan 8 (DPA) A 42-year-old British man Thursday became the first quadriplegic to sail his own boat across the Atlantic Ocean when he crossed a finish line near the Virgin Islands.
Geoff Holt, who has been paralysed for 25 years, piloted the 18-metre boat, named Impossible Dream, across 4,300 km on a trip that began Dec 10, despite mechanical problems and sometimes poor wind conditions.
“It has been my dream to sail back across the Atlantic to Cane Garden Bay, and I have done it. It’s very emotional,” he told the BBC. “It has been a long Christmas and new year without (my wife and son) so I am looking forward to having a big hug.”
He received some support from a caretaker during the journey and was accompanied by a cameraman, but remained solely responsible for sailing the boat.
Holt has been paralysed after jumping headfirst into water that was too shallow. Because he has only limited use of his arms and hands, special gear was needed to help him control the boat.
Holt had sailed across the ocean three times before his accident. In 2007, he became the first quadriplegic to sail around Britain, reported the BBC.
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