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Disabled sailor to try again after being thrown from boat

9:00am Tuesday 15th May 2007

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A HAMPSHIRE yachtsman has spoken of his "personal heartbreak" at having to call off his bid to become the first disabled person to sail singlehanded round Great Britain when he was thrown from his boat.

Quadriplegic sailor Geoff Holt set sail from Hamble on the first leg of the record-breaking 1,600-mile voyage yesterday.

But disaster struck when waves generated by the dozens of spectator and press boats caused his 15ft trimaran to become overpowered and he was thrown into the Solent.

To make matters worse, the 40-year-old's lifejacket didn't inflate properly, and he lay face down in the water unable to turn himself over.

One of his rescue team jumped the support boat and flipped Geoff onto his back, before dragging him to safety.

Today Geoff said that he was fine and well - but his pride had been hurt.

He said: "What started as one of the most amazing days for me ended in personal heartbreak.

"I became a victim of our own PR interest by the world's media when the many spectator boats caused a confused sea and with a following stiff breeze, my boat broached across the top of one of the washes from a nearby RIB.

"It flung the boat around, I overbalanced and found myself face down in the Solent in front of the worlds press.

"Was anyone to blame?

"Of course not, it was just one of those things.

"This is a momentous Challenge and one we hope to restart in the next few days.

If the challenge goes ahead, Geoff, from Shedfield, will aim to sail about 50 miles a day on a voyage that will take around 50 days to complete.

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Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

Notso brave, says...
10:55am Tue 15 May 07

Brave man if you try again i hope you succeed

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Tamara, says...
11:03am Tue 15 May 07

A momentous task ahead of you!

Good luck to you - I know you won't give up!

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Hugh Carres, says...
1:50pm Tue 15 May 07

Why-oh-why do the Great British public warm to these nutters ?

Quite clearly the man needs to get some help ! He barely got a few miles out before getting into trouble.

Why should our brave rescue services, coastguard or RNLI in this instance, have to risk their own lives to rescue these publicity obsessed imbeciles ?

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Coasty, says...
1:50pm Tue 15 May 07

How totally irresponsible, this man should be stopped. But no, it’s P.C. gone mad. And when he falls in the water once again and someone is not there to drag him out again, then I’m sure it will be the COASTGUARD/RNLI’s fault. Bob should stay at home.

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Girlie Boater, says...
2:09pm Tue 15 May 07

Coasty wrote:
How totally irresponsible, this man should be stopped. But no, it’s P.C. gone mad. And when he falls in the water once again and someone is not there to drag him out again, then I’m sure it will be the COASTGUARD/RNLI’s fault. Bob should stay at home.
Duh! Did you not read the story?! Geoff (not Bob!) was pulled out of the water by one of his own rescue team. Jeez, why should anyone with a disability have to stay at home? Do they suddenly have no brains or ambition just because their limbs have suffered damage? I say good on you Geoff - go for it!

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Hugh Carres, says...
2:24pm Tue 15 May 07

If he has a support team just a few yards away - what is so bloody brave and heroic about this guy ? He might as well get them to tow him around the country !

When they all get into trouble (assuming he can stay upright long enough to hit open water) who is goign to put their lives at risk to get them out of it ???


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Girlie Boater, says...
2:24pm Tue 15 May 07

Wrong button...
just the same as any event where sailors (either able bodied or otherwise) take part in events. You cannot tell me that you are watching every yacht / dinghy / powerboat event that takes place around the UK "Just in case"! you are called in times of need and the majority of event-holders provide their own safety cover - as has Geoff (not Bob).

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FredaWheeler, says...
2:55pm Tue 15 May 07

I think it is very brave of the man to do this, it reminds me of the determination my late husband Edward showed during our life together. Many, was the time he would go on adventures, often for months at a time. Finally he left on an adventure, never to return. His clothes were found washed up on a beach. Very sad, I know, but that was a long time ago. I try to keep myself active by cycling, but I’m not as young as I once was.

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Girlie Boater, says...
3:19pm Tue 15 May 07

Well let's all hope he doesn't need your help - you can't even manage to get his name right, so goodness knows how you'll manage to get assistance to the right location! I really hope you don't work for MRCC Solent!

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Coasty, says...
3:38pm Tue 15 May 07

I see you are begining to see the situation more clearly now. You see when special peolpe pull these types of stunts, it's the working folk, the trawlermen and alike that are put at risk because of the resources being diverted, "just in case" as a dead Quadriplegic makes a bigger news story than "a trawlerman" just you remember how brave the men are next time you sit down to a fish dinner. I have every repect for "Bob" but please think of others before you head-off into the sunset on the trail of personal glory.

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Rich Mondé, says...
3:48pm Tue 15 May 07

before I pass comment, who is Bob?

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spindoc, bramble bank says...
3:50pm Tue 15 May 07

Not sure that he is going to make it. If you can’t get out of the Hamble then what does the future hold in store. I think “Bob”, and it sounds like he did, needs to rethink.

Sorry, but clearly he aint up to it.

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Reginald Perin, Surbiton says...
3:52pm Tue 15 May 07

FredaWheeler wrote:
I think it is very brave of the man to do this, it reminds me of the determination my late husband Edward showed during our life together. Many, was the time he would go on adventures, often for months at a time. Finally he left on an adventure, never to return. His clothes were found washed up on a beach. Very sad, I know, but that was a long time ago. I try to keep myself active by cycling, but I’m not as young as I once was.
Fantastic Freda - keep up the good work

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Freda Wheeler, says...
5:53pm Tue 15 May 07

Thank you Reginald, I have not been spoken to in such a supportive and may I say gentlemanly way for sometime, it is reassuring to know that there are still men of integrity, like my dear Edward.

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Hugh Carres, says...
6:40pm Tue 15 May 07

So do we know when this Bob fella is going to make another 'attempt' ? Just want to make sure I'm nowhere near the coast - lord knows what could happen with this amateur at large !

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Keith Oftergrass, says...
6:46pm Tue 15 May 07

Why doesn't everyone leave the old buoy alone.... mind you I don't think you could trust him to circumnavigate a phone box on current form !

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Gerry, says...
7:47pm Tue 15 May 07

This chap seems very keen on killing himself. I knew chaps like him when I was in army, deadful waste.

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Sailor Dan, says...
9:59pm Tue 15 May 07

I think that 'bob' is very brave and instead of mocking him, i think we should be congratulating him on having the gut's. The Incident could have happend to anyone. Go For It.

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R. Hoad, says...
10:29pm Tue 15 May 07

Hugh Carres and Coasty: Mr Holt had a full support team capable of dealing with any incident that might happen, thats why they were there, to support.
When was the last time you challenged yourselves gentlemen?
I say good luck to you Geoff, its a pity there arent more like you, willing to push themselves.
This is what went to make Britain "GREAT".

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Gerry, says...
8:07am Wed 16 May 07

I think you will find that it was a mixture of piracy, slavery, murder, genocide, war and blood-y minded arrogance that made Britain Great, my freind.

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misspelt, says...
8:30am Wed 16 May 07

Not an ability to spell.

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Norman Tebit, Westminster says...
11:02am Wed 16 May 07

Mr Hoad

I applaud your comments. Thanks be to God that Hampshire still boasts such staunch traditionalists as your good self. That’s what this country needs – more men like you who will stand tall for this great island nation of ours.

No doubt you have challenged yourself on a regular basis fighting crime and the evil doers that are destroying our very social fabric. Rule Britannia. Bring back hanging, the birch and public flogging. What ever happened to tea dances and leaving you back door unlocked while you popped next door to do the neighbour?

You are a man after my own heart. God bless you.



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R. Hoad, says...
5:26pm Wed 16 May 07

I am sorry but you make me feel sick, knocking a man for trying, a disabled man at that.
Make you feel good does it, he has bigger balls then most able bodied people i know and i would be proud to call him my brother

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Well wisher, Hampshire says...
7:22pm Thu 17 May 07

To "Coasty" and the other scum who have posted negative comments.
How DARE you comment on a situation you blatantly have no facts of. This man has more bravery and integrity of any man I know, and I am proud to know him. Go back to your computers and let the real hero's reach their goals. DD

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James, Connecticut says...
9:52pm Thu 17 May 07

What a dumb **** thing to do. it's clear he can't do the trip on his own. If he tried, he'd be dead right now. So let him do it, but don't gie him any help if he fails. Then he can be proud of something he did himself. Otherwise it is a stupid exercise in hand holding.

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James, USA says...
10:03pm Thu 17 May 07

You Brits need to collect yourselves and remember what made Britain great. It was not doing stupid things that make no sense. It is not an accomplishment if your don't do it yourself. Take Dee Cackacackfari, the girl that was given a boat to sail around the world the wrong way. Did she do it on her own? No! Is it an achievement when you have millions backing you? Hell no! Is it an achievement for a dumb-as* quadrapeligic to fall off a boat in mild conditions? Heck no! It is STUPID. I've always admired the Brits. Time for you guys to stop this nonsense, or the whole world will be laughing at you. I can tell you everyone over here that I've told the story to is laughing so hard, they fall out of their chairs. It is the truth. So think about it and back some more worthwhile cause.

One final point. If this guy falls out of his boat again, just leave him there. He can take care of himself right?

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Mark Clark, Southampton says...
3:07pm Fri 18 May 07

Perhaps its worth noting in any further comments to this forum that we can confirm (MCA) that the Coastguard and Mr Holt have been in close discussion before this unfortunate incident, and that we have every confidence in his contingency planning and risk assessments. We will be talking to Geoff and his back up crew as they go round the Coast and from all of us at the MCA/HM Coastguard we wish him every success!

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Comments are closed on this article.

HELPING HANDS: Geoff is pulled from the Solent after hitting the wave. Picture by onEdition HELPING HANDS: Geoff is pulled from the Solent after hitting the wave. Picture by onEdition

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