Club sailors support disabled yachtsman

Geoff's 'Personal Everest' challenge began with the launch, attended by HRH The Princess Royal, on 21st March at Surrey Docks. On completion of the voyage he will have set a new record as being the first disabled person to sail solo around the coast of Britain.

Bexhill sailing club members took the clubs patrol boat out to greet Geoff; member Richard Tyrie said that they had wanted to, "do something in recognition of this incredible feat and to wish Geoff, bon voyage."

This amazing journey, set in stages of 8 hours a day over 100 days, requires not only stamina, endurance and presence of mind (beyond the capabilities of many able bodied sailors) but will be dependent on weather and tides.

Geoff said that the voyage was something that he had planned to do for several years and that whilst the sailing will be physically challenging the real obstacles to the success of the challenge will be the logistics surrounding his care. He said: " In other words, how I actually arrive at the boat each day dressed and rested, how I find accessible accommodation, how I manage to eat and drink in the boat, how I prevent pressure sores from such long exposure to unconventional seating posture etc. Compared to these problems, the sailing is going to be the easy part."

He added: "I am under no illusions what a difficult challenge this is. Thankfully I have a fabulous support team around me." He added: "Sailing is an incredibly exhilarating experience and makes you completely forget your disability."

Geoff, tragically paralysed from the chest down after a swimming accident twenty years ago, had been a professional yachtsman prior to the accident, clocking up a staggering 27,000 miles including three trans-Atllantic crossings and several solo voyages between the ages of 15-18. He then became one of the youngest charter skippers in the Caribbean at only 18 years of age.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair and with little or no movement in his arms and fingers Geoff was undeterred and became involved with disabled sailing. He was the first disabled sailor to sail solo round the Isle of Wight not once but twice - in 1992 and again in 1997 breaking his own record.

The holder of many disabled endurance records Geoff is also the founder and Chairman of the Disabled Classes Association which represents all competitive disabled sailors.

For more information or to track Geoff's progress visit his website: www.personaleverest.com