A former soldier who lost both legs and his left hand in Afghanistan has become the first triple amputee to sail solo across any ocean, completing a gruelling 6,000 mile Pacific crossing in 90 days.
Craig Wood, 33, arrived in Yokohama, Japan after setting off from La Paz, Mexico earlier this year, defying medical predictions that he "would never sail again" following his devastating injuries.
Speaking to GB News from Japan, he said: "It took 90 days, and yeah, it was fairly difficult at times. I broke my engine completely, seized one of them.
"I ran over my sail three times, my boom came off and then, on top of that, I was missing my wife and children. It was pretty tough. But I made it. I’m good and I’m really looking forward to getting home."
Craig Wood became the first triple amputee to sail solo across any ocean
GB NEWS
He added: "I was on a sailing catamaran. It does have engines, but not enough fuel for more than about four days. So the rest of the 90-day journey was almost entirely wind-powered.
"I was pulling ropes, steering myself, using celestial navigation, proper old-school stuff. I used paper charts. It was real sailing."
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The achievement marks an extraordinary milestone for the Doncaster native, who took up sailing as a form of rehabilitation following his life-changing injuries.
Wood was just 18-years-old and three months into his first tour of Afghanistan when a command-wire IED blast changed his life forever.
The explosion claimed both his legs and his left hand, whilst shrapnel ravaged his face.
He spent 14 days in an induced coma and endured countless operations in the months that followed.
Learning to walk again took eight months, followed by four and a half years of intensive rehabilitation at Headley Court in Surrey.
The voyage served a greater purpose beyond personal achievement, raising funds for two charities that supported Wood during his darkest hours.
Blesma, which assists thousands of limbless veterans annually with mental health support and practical aid, was one beneficiary.
He also supported Starboard, which helps veterans heal through sailing and provides training for those struggling with PTSD.
Wood now lives aboard his boat, Sirius II, with his wife Renata and their two young children
GB NEWS/Craig Wood
"They help thousands every year and they never ask for thanks. I'm proud to support them, and I hope others will too," Wood explained to The Peoples Channel.
Wood now lives aboard his boat, Sirius II, with his wife Renata and their two young children, operating an open boat policy to teach sailing to people with and without disabilities.
Before departing on his Pacific challenge, Wood received news that his wife was expecting their third child.
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