Inspirational sailor on award shortlist (From Daily Echo)

Inspirational sailor Geoff Holt on award shortlist

6:30am Thursday 2nd December 2010 in News

RECORD-breaking disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt has been nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in sailing.

The 44-year-old, pictured, from Southampton has been named as a contender for the Yachting Journalists’ Association’s Yachtsman of the Year award.

The nomination comes shortly after Geoff, who was the first disabled person to sail solo around Great Britain and also sailed across the Atlantic unaided, was made an MBE for services to disabled sailing.

“I cannot begin to explain what this means to me”, said Geoff.

“Given the choice between an MBE and Yachtsman of the Year, I would choose the YOTY award every time.

Tens of thousands of people receive MBEs but more people have walked on the moon than received the YOTY award. It’s more like a knighthood of sailing.”

The winner will be announced on January 11