Around 7,000 nautical miles lie between the west coast of Mexico and Japan. Blue water sailors usually choose a route south of the equator - there, one archipelago follows the next and the distances over open water shrink considerably. The situation is different in the northern hemisphere: Apart from Hawaii, the Pacific offers hardly any stopovers. Anyone sailing here is at the mercy of the whims of the ocean - high waves, violent storms and gruelling lulls.
Craig Wood crosses the Pacific in 90 days
Craig Wood took on this challenge - and mastered it successfully. After 90 days at sea and 7,506 nautical miles in her wake, the veteran arrived in Hiroshima in June 2025. He started at the end of March in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This makes him the first triple amputee to cross the Pacific solo.
The Pacific crossing is just one of many challenges that the Briton has already mastered. In 2009, he was hit by a bomb attack in Afghanistan. He was critically injured, losing both legs and his left arm. With an iron will, he fought his way back to life. During his rehabilitation, he discovered sailing. Today, he lives mainly on a boat with his family and has sailed around most of the world.
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Craig Wood in a row with Neuschäfer and Brauer
At the start of boot 2026 in Düsseldorf, the Briton received the Seamaster Award at the Flagship Night on Saturday evening. The award honours outstanding personalities in water sports every year. Delius Klasing Verlag and boot Düsseldorf jointly present the award. Cole Brauer received the award in 2025 and Kirsten Neuschäfer in 2024.
The award recognises people who have shaped water sports in a special way - through sporting success or exemplary commitment. Craig Wood is now the twelfth recipient of the award and joins a list that already includes sailors such as Boris Herrmann, François Gabart, Jimmy Spithill and Loïck Peyron.
Kroker: "Society can be proud"
"Craig, it's not just you, but the whole of society that can be proud of this unique achievement," says Jens Kroker. Born in Hamburg, he held the laudatory speech for the Briton on Saturday evening. The two met at the Sonar World Championships in Ireland in 2013.
Kroker was born with only one hand - like Craig Wood, sailing gave him self-confidence and helped him to overcome challenges. He has been sailing for over 40 years, has won three medals at the Paralympic Games and is one of the most successful Paralympic sailors ever.
An inspiration and beacon of hope
Wood is an inspiration for people who are also facing challenges in life or who have lost hope in their own abilities, says Kroker.
With your courage, perseverance and innovative spirit, you have proven that disabilities don't have to be barriers."
He also showed that sailing has the power to give you back hope and self-confidence. Kroker: "The sailing community is proud of your achievement - it shows that sailing is the perfect way to achieve inclusion."
