Despite encountering a series of technical setbacks, Blesma Member Craig Wood has now crossed the halfway mark in his ambitious solo sailing challenge, with over 4,000 nautical miles behind him. He remains optimistic about reaching his destination—Osaka, Japan—in just over a month.
The 33-year-old triple amputee has faced numerous equipment failures at sea. These included a broken rope on his Gennaker sail, which impacted his speed, a torn sail, a snapped reef line that he successfully re-rigged, and a malfunctioning rudder. When the rudder began pointing 30 degrees off course, Craig improvised a new mount to restore control.
“I’m still moving with enough speed to miss Japanese cyclone season, but it will be tighter than planned. I’m more determined than ever,” said Craig.
“It’s been a really challenging few weeks where I’ve felt a lot of different emotions and wondered if I’d see the finish line, but then I dug deep and got cracking with some repairs and realised that what I set out to achieve was still very much possible.
“I’d be surprised if any boat sailed over 3,000 nautical miles and didn’t have a breakage of some sort, but the amount I’ve had to deal with has been a lot.”
Along the way, Craig has found unexpected moments of beauty and companionship on the open water.
“I’ve seen many rainbows, lots and lots of flying fish, and a Booby that seems to have made my boat its home is keeping me company and has helped to restore my faith in what I’m doing and made me appreciate what I’m capable of out here in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean.”
Having departed La Paz, Mexico, on 25 March at 4:45pm GMT, Craig now has approximately 3,000 nautical miles remaining before reaching Osaka.
“Other than missing my family, I have generally been really at peace out on the water despite the obvious dangers such as hidden coral reefs, upcoming tropical storms and then fishing fleets as I get closer to Japan. But as I’m still making headway, I’m hopeful that my flurry of issues are now under control and will remain that way.”
