Amputee aims to inspire others with solo sail goal

Former soldier Craig Wood, 33, lost both legs and his left hand after an explosion in Afghanistan when he was 18

A triple amputee has said he wants to show others with catastrophic injuries that anything is possible as he prepares to sail across the Pacific Ocean solo.

Former soldier Craig Wood, 33, lost both his legs and his left hand in Afghanistan in 2009 after being blown up by a roadside bomb.

He is planning to sail 6,000 nautical miles from Mexico to Japan to raise money for the charities which helped him recover.

Mr Wood, from Doncaster, said: "I hope I can inspire other amputees to get into sailing - and change able-bodied people's perception of us."

His journey will take place on his houseboat, a 41ft aluminium catamaran called Sirius II.

Mr Wood normally lives on it with his fiancée and two young children, three and one, travelling the world.

He said he has "niceties" such as a coffee machine, SodaStream and even a trampoline but the journey will still be "by far the toughest thing" he has ever done.

Mr Wood said this will be the biggest challenge he has ever undertaken

Mr Wood will be the first recognised para sailor to achieve this feat, according to World Sailing.

He plans to depart from La Paz in Mexico early in 2025, during a small window when the weather is favourable, and sail solo for roughly 80 days.

The only real contact, aside from Facetiming his family, will be with his UK-based meteorologist and a satellite communication system.

Mr Wood pictured with his fiancée Renata and their two children

When asked how he will spend his days, Mr Wood said: "Tracking where I am, tracking again, more tracking, monitoring the weather and keeping logs.

"I'll also listen to a lot of audio books," he added.

The boat has certain adaptations for his disability, such as extra grab rails and an electric winch in case he injures his hand, but for the most part he will "operate the boat as normal".

Mr Wood said: "My balance is absolutely affected by my disability, it's a lot easier for me to fall down.

"But I'm only falling two foot so I will just go on all fours or do an elephant crawl if need be."

Mr Wood was on his first tour of Afghanistan when he was injured

If a storm hits, he has precautions in place including a huge parachute anchor to hold his boat in place.

"But if it flips, it will stay flipped," he said.

Making sure the weather is calm before he embarks is crucial.

Mr Wood was a keen windsurfer before he was injured and also learned to sail with his father during holidays in Bridlington.

He was told he would never windsurf again after the blast, but his father encouraged him to look into para sailing.

Mr Wood said sailing and being around the sea had healed him

Despite more than 20 operations, two collapsed lungs and losing 27 pints of blood, he was on speedboat in Weymouth within four months of leaving hospital in 2011.

"British Sailing taught me how sail with my disability, then it was just lots of time spent on the water - I did three weeks out of every four," Mr Wood said.

Mr Wood bought his first boat and embarked on his first voyage a few years later.

He is raising money for Turn to Starboard, a charity that helps injured veterans learn to sail.

Mr Wood, who is planning to marry his fiancée Renata in August, said being on the water has been so healing for him.

Mr Wood meeting Queen Camilla at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Headley Court, Surrey, in 2009

Mr Wood said that he used to feel trapped, but sailing opened up a "new world of opportunity".

The other charity which aided Mr Wood's rehabilitation is Blesma, who helps limbless veterans.

Though the trip would mean being away from his family, he said he was determined to show other amputees "what was possible".

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