Walking on Water

On September 5, 1984, eighteen-year-old Geoff Holt dived into an idyllic tropical sea, and his life changed forever. A broken neck cut short a promising career as a yachtsman and left him paralyzed, with his horizons reduced to an uncertain future in a wheelchair. On September 5, 2007, after a journey of 109 days and 1445 miles, Geoff Holt crossed the finish line in the Solent and reached the summit of his Personal Everest. He was the first quadriplegic yachtsman to sail single handed around Britain. Walking on Water is Geoff's very personal story of his life before the accident: how he learned to live with his disability, how he achieved remarkable success in spite of it, and, in particular, how he rediscovered the sea and helped to promote sailing opportunities for disabled people. It is also the story of how he conceived, organized, and completed the dangerous Personal Everest voyage. Moving, uplifting, and written with humor, it is above all a journey through a remarkable life

Geoff tells how he learned to live with his disability and overcome it. Need some inspiration? Here it is! Latitudes & Attitudes
On September 5, 2007, Geoff Holt, who was injured in a spinal cord accident at the age of 18, became the first paraplegic sailor to complete a singlehanded voyage around Great Britain in Freethinker, a Challenger trimaran. This 109 day marathon, which he called his Personal Everest as it represented the ultimate challenge for him mentally and physically, revealed not only his amazing determination to overcome obstacles presented by his disability but also the personal sacrifices of the team that supported him throughout the venture. Interwoven in this absorbing tale are Geoff's revelations of his upbringing and the diving accident that broke his neck and threatened to waylay his budding sailing career. His candid and sometimes humorous account of his life as well as his Personal Everest challenge, which almost cost him his life, is engrossing reading. -- Cruising World
When 18-year-old Geoff Holt, a promising yachtsman, dove into the sea and broke his neck, he faced an uncertain future in a wheelchair. Refusing to give up his dream, the quadriplegic Briton learned to live with his disability, becoming a successful businessman and sailing single-handedly around Britain. Holt's well-written memoir alternates between the time he spent sailing and his personal victory over tremendous odds. Told with humor, his story affirms a love for the sea and an indomitable spirit. The Ensign

Geoff Holt has achieved his "Personal Everest," and has been an inspiration to many people with disabilities. Unable to pursue his first career as a charter skipper, he learned computing and became a marketing manager in a large accounting firm. He later went on to achieve a degree in fine arts valuation. He has contributed to "Sailability," inspiring sailors with disabilities.

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