Wetwheels Solent

Geoff was paralysed in a swimming accident in 1984 and uses a wheelchair. In 1995 he became the inaugural Chairman of RYA Sailability. In 2007 he became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain and in 2009 he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted. He was awarded an MBE for “Services to Disabled Sailing” in 2010 and named ‘Yachtsman of the Year’ shortly after. He was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2012 and he is a Council member of the RNLI. He is also a patron and ambassador for several charities for people with disabilities.

Geoff has 20 years experience in marketing & PR working for international accountancy firms Deloitte & Coopers & Lybrand. He holds a degree in Antiques and Auctioneering. He is the author of 'Walking on Water' and is a professional Speaker. 

He founded Wetwheels in 2011. 

Jo has 35 years of experience in design, marketing and administration, formerly in the design world and then latterly in the private education sector a School Registrar. Growing up on the South Coast she sailed with her dad and brother in Chichester harbour and pursued her love of horse riding in the South Downs. A move to the North Norfolk coast in her twenties gave her the opportunity to join the local Coastguard and went on to become Coxswain of the rescue boat and worked alongside the lifeboat and the other coastguard teams in the area.

Jo lives on a Dutch Barge in Hamble and spends her time maintaining her boat, kayaking on the river with her dog and visiting her home in the West Coast of Scotland. She has been a keen volunteer crew for Wetwheels Hamble for the last 3 years and is now looking forward to bringing her passion, enthusiasm and experience to Wetwheels Solent and the Wetwheels Foundation.

Andrew has recently retired after successfully running his own business for 18 years and has a lifelong love of the sea, boating and fishing.

After meeting Geoff more than 40 years ago through the Round Table organisation Andrew was honoured to be asked to be involved with Wetwheels, and being part of a group that offers such wonderful experiences on the water fills him with pride.  Andrew is committed to ensuring that Wetwheels continues to provide trips that offer freedom and adventure to wheelchair users of all ages.

Martin is Regional Director for Vision Independent Financial Planning Ltd and first became involved with Wetwheels when he was inspired by Geoff Holt at a corporate speech Geoff gave.  He says, “What I can give back is only an incredibly tiny percentage of what Geoff does for disabled people.  To see the reaction we get from people who have experienced a ride on the boat is amazing and worth any time I am able to spend!

Having spent my teen years growing up in Cape Town I have always had a passion for the sea.  Any spare time I had I surfed, waterskied and sailed. Eventually I crewed on a new yacht delivery from there to the Med and started life in the UK on the south coast. I’ve been around and had boats most of my life so a job with Wetwheels was perfect especially with the people I get to meet and in turn share the enjoyment that boats and the sea can bring