AssetID: 54682507
Headline: British Triple Amputee Is Making Record-Breaking Sail Across The Pacific Ocean
Caption: Afghan war veteran Craig Wood is sailing over the entirety of the Pacific Ocean despite being a triple amputee. The British hero is currently, as of 23 April. well over 3000 nautical miles into his epic voyage - having caught the trade winds to boost his progress. The 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, United Kingdom is sailing 7,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean in total. He set off from La Paz in Mexico on 25 March and his gruelling expedition will end in Osaka in Japan after a predicted 80 days. On his way, Craig will likely face waves as tall as two double decker buses; tropical storms; hidden atolls (coral reefs) that could puncture the boat’s hull and fishing fleets off the coast of Japan - all while managing the additional challenges associated with his injuries. This is no tourist jaunt of the sort cruise ships might go on - as Craig has had to miss out on seeing the sights to be master and commander of his mission. He is sailing on what was his houseboat, a 41ft aluminium catamaran called Sirius II. Wood normally lives on it with his partner and two young children, which they use to travel the world. The boat has certain adaptations for his disability, such as extra grab rails and an electric winch in case he injures his hand. However, he generally sails much like someone with limbs intact. “I very much like Hawaii having been to Maui once before,” said Craig when updating us all on his trip. “It would have been nice to see the islands in more detail, but I’ve decided to stay at a distance for safety reasons. I saw a flock of sea birds that brought a smile to my face plus the weather is sunny and windy which is exactly what I remember from my last time in Hawaii.” However, despite the hardships he is relishing the epic journey - one that has caused fully able bodied sailors huge problems in the past. “I’m really enjoying myself and I can’t really ask for more,” he added. Craig lost both legs and his left hand in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2009. His face was also ravaged by shrapnel. Waking up 14 days later from an induced coma, nothing would ever be the same again. It took eight months for Craig to learn to walk again and four-and-a-half years of rehabilitation work to improve his quality of life. He had more than 20 operations, two collapsed lungs and losing 27 pints of blood, but survived. Back home and recovering from his injuries, he returned to the hobby his father had shared with him as a child on their family trips in the UK - sailing. On his latest, and biggest, sail Craig has found company with a collection of birds who join his boat, as if to will him on. “The Storm Petrels are around the boat every day, a bird that looks so flimsy it’s hard to believe it’s out here. I feel akin to it - some people view me as similar, and this is what I am trying to change.” It should come as no surprise that he is doing well, however, as Craig is the world’s first triple amputee to achieve a RYA (Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster qualification. Supporting his record-breaking sail are his partners Team Forces, Boxxe, Collins Aerospace, Ottobock and Palo Alto, and you can follow his adventures on Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms on @Craigwoodsails. Additionally, he wants to thank all the other organisations who have supported his sail including; Blue Wave, Branding Science, Dataminr, Henri Lloyd, Lanex Ropes, NSSLGlobal, Panama Yachting Services, Predict Wind, Rolly tasker, Sun God, The yacht Rigger, Total Boat and Veeam.
Keywords: feature,video,photo,sailing,war,amputee,pacific ocean
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