Triple amputee honoured after solo Pacific crossing

British sailor Craig Wood has received the prestigious Seamaster Award after completing a solo Pacific crossing. He is the first triple amputee to complete the passage alone, non-stop and unsupported.

Wood crossed the Northern Pacific, leaving Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta in March 2025 and reaching Hiroshima, Japan, in June. The route spans 7,506 nautical miles.

While most sailors opt for the island-heavy routes south of the equator to break up the journey, Wood took on the unforgiving Northern Pacific. Stretching from Mexico to Japan, a distance of 7,506 nautical miles, this route offers almost no reprieve, and apart from Hawaii, there are hardly any stopovers, which leaves a sailor at the mercy of violent storms and gruelling lulls. He spent around three months at sea during the voyage.

Wood served in Afghanistan and was injured in a bomb attack in 2009, losing both legs and his left arm. During rehabilitation, he began sailing and has since made the sport his full-time occupation.

The Seamaster Award, which honours exceptional people in water sports, is presented annually by boot Düsseldorf and publisher Delius Klasing Verlag as part of the annual Flagship Night.

German Paralympic sailor Jens Kroker delivered the speech at the award ceremony. Kroker is the managing director of the Turning Point Foundation, an organisation that promotes inclusion through sailing.

“Craig, it’s not just you, but the whole of society that can be proud of this unique achievement. The sailing community is proud of your achievement – it shows that sailing is the perfect way to achieve inclusion,” says Kroker.

Born with one hand, Kroker has competed in sailing for more than 40 years and has won three medals at the Paralympic Games.

Previous recipients linked to the Seamaster Award include Rolex World Sailor of the Year Kirsten Neuschäfer, Cole Brauer, Boris Herrmann, François Gabart, Jimmy Spithill and Loïck Peyron.

Today, Wood lives primarily on a boat with his family, having already sailed most of the globe.