An extraordinary sailing trip starts today, 25 March: British veteran Craig Wood is the first triple amputee to set off alone to cross the Pacific. The journey takes him 7,000 nautical miles (approx. 13,000 km) from Puerto Vallarta in Mexico to Osaka in Japan. Completely on his own, he wants to sail through some of the most challenging waters in the world in his 41-foot catamaran. His goals are to inspire people, raise funds for charities and change the perception of disabilities. "I want to show what is possible and encourage people to overcome their limitations," said Craig Wood.

From the area of operation in Afghanistan to the greatest adventure of his life

April 2009, Afghanistan: Just three months after his deployment, Craig Wood, who was only 18 years old at the time, stepped on a roadside bomb. The now 33-year-old lost both legs and one arm and suffered severe facial injuries. He was in a coma for two weeks and spent four years in a British Army rehabilitation facility. "It took eight months before I was able to walk again. I had to relearn all the basics," Wood recalls. Despite numerous setbacks, he developed an unshakeable mental strength: "Instead of mourning what I've lost, I focused on what I can still do."

Even as a child, Wood used to sail along the English coast with his family. After the accident, sailing became more than just a hobby – it became his new purpose in life. During his rehabilitation, he got in touch with a trainer from the British Paralympic sailing team. When sailing was dropped from the Paralympic programme in 2015, he looked for a new challenge. The turning point came when a sailor invited him that same year to sail with him on a 50-foot boat. "I knew immediately: That’s it! I'm going to buy a boat and sail around the world." Since then, he has been living with his wife Renata and their two children most of the time on their boat, the Sirius II.

80 days full of challenges

Craig Wood expects an 80-day journey across the Pacific, during which he will face storms, extreme weather conditions and long periods of loneliness. "I’m prepared for anything – from sudden hurricanes to dead calm, anything can happen." His journey is captured in a documentary, with live video updates and regular vlogs on his YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, Craig Wood is collecting donations for the organisations "Blesma" and "Turn 2 Starboard", which support wounded veterans. Both organisations played a crucial role in his own rehabilitation after amputation of both legs above the knee and his left arm below the elbow. His target: £50,000.

The German medical technology company Ottobock supports and accompanies Craig Wood on his adventure. That’s because his journey shows just what’s possible with determination and the right prostheses. During his sailing trip, Wood wears the highly developed Genium X3 knee joint on both sides in combination with a normal prosthetic foot for everyday life on board. He uses this set-up both on the boat and on land when he's not sailing - for example when walking on the beach with his children, cooking in the galley or working on deck when the sea is calm. ‘On the boat, the Geniums makes working on the boat more comfortable and more stable in a lot of circumstance and I can access things that previously I could not,’ explains Craig Wood.

For more demanding conditions on board, Wood uses the Ottobock Challenger prosthetic feet. He uses these by attaching them directly to the socket, which makes him smaller overall - an advantage when accessing the engine room, for example, or when moving across the deck in heavy seas. The Challengers offer enhanced stability and safety in such situations.

Due to their resistance to water and corrosion, both the Genium X3 and the Challenger are particularly suitable for on-board use since they retain their functionality even under extreme conditions. This is particularly important at sea, where moisture and salt water are always with you.

At Ottobock, they are impressed by Wood's drive and determination: "Craig Wood shows that mobility is much more than just getting from A to B – it means independence, freedom and the opportunity to pursue your own goals. His journey is an impressive example of what can be achieved with willpower and the right devices – even though, of course, not everyone with an amputation has to set out on such an extreme adventure," says Hannah Grempe, Head of Global Brand Communication & Partnerships at Ottobock.

With his journey, Craig Wood not only wants to conquer the ocean, but also push the boundaries of imagination – for himself, for others with disabilities, and for a society that empowers everyone to achieve their dreams.