"I first thought of doing the Atlantic when I got back from my trip around Great Britain in September 2007. Everyone was asking "What next?, What next?". I didn't reveal my plan then, not even to my wife, I wanted to continue to enjoy the experience of Personal Everest. It was the right decision. It would be another 6 months before I drummed up the courage to tell Elaine, but by then I'd already met with Mike and asked to borrow his boat.  He said "yes" so getting Elaine's approval suddenly became all the more urgent".

Aged only 16, Geoff had sailed the Atlantic Ocean twice and, by his 18th birthday, he had sailed it for a third time.  To sail the Atlantic again, more than 25 years later, only this time as a quadriplegic, will be to achieve a dream considered unthinkable when he first lost his livelihood as a yachtsman in 1984.

"But more than achieving a dream. In so doing, I can give something back to the sport I love so dearly. Not only are we raising funds for the Ellen Macarthur Trust, but it will hopefully inspire a new generation of disabled sailors". 

`Do you know", said Mole, "I`ve never been in a boat before in all my life.'

What?' cried the Rat, open-mouthed: `Never been in a.., you never.., well I.., what have you been doing, then?'

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The adventure begins December 2009

Impossible Dream is a wheelchair accessible yacht owned by the charity Sporting Activities for the Disabled.

Manufactured by Multimarine near Plymouth in the UK, she is a custom-built design with push-button technology allowing Geoff to navigate and sail the boat using his sailing skills and experience, without relying on his physical ability.

Vital statistics; 

• LOA 18m
• Beam 8.25m
• Draft: 1.14m
• Displacement: 13,500kg
• Engines: 2x 70hp saildrive Volvos
• Construction: Carbon vacuum foam sandwich

Visit www.geoffholt.com

Skippering Impossible Dream for the Atlantic crossing will be quadriplegic yachtsman Geoff Holt.

By the age of 18, Geoff had sailed in excess of 30,000 miles at sea, including 3 trans-Atlantic crossings and several solo voyages. His career was cut short in 1984 by a life changing accident which left him paralysed from the chest down. Diving into shallow water broke his neck causing a complete spinal cord injury and he has used a wheelchair ever since.

He has remained passionate about sailing and keen to support any initiative which provides sailing opportunities to other disabled people. In 1995, Geoff was a founding Trustee of the national disabled sailing charity RYA Sailability and now, through a network of more than 150 Sailability clubs and groups, more than 20,000 disabled people a year experience the freedom of sailing in the UK.

For more than 15 years he headed up regional marketing teams for two of the world's largest firms of accountants.  He holds a degree in Fine Art Valuation and has sat on just about every sailing committee representing disabled sailing both nationally and internationally.

More than 20 years after his accident, Geoff became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain in an expedition he called Personal Everest.

 “Sailing has given me so much in my life.  It was my livelihood before my accident and it was to be my saviour after it.  The freedom I experience on the sea is like no other; I am free of my wheelchair and free of my disability.  When I am on the water, it makes me feel alive and any sailor, regardless of their ability, will know exactly that same feeling.  Sailing is my life.” says Geoff.

On his return from Personal Everest, Geoff published his autobiography Walking on Water to critical acclaim.

Personal Atlantic will see him sail the Atlantic again, but this time, as a quadriplegic yachtsman.