A SAILING boat named Inspiration is making an inspirational difference to the life of tetraplegic Tom Harper.

Record-breaking disabled sailor Geoff Holt, who was the first to circumnavigate Great Britain and cross the Atlantic, presented the electrically-controlled boat to the Spinnaker Sailing Club in Ringwood.

Tom, who worked as a design engineer, became paralysed from the shoulders down at just 23 years old.

He spent a year in hospital and struggled to find the motivation he needed to rebuild his life.

By chance he met Geoff, who suggested that he should try sailing and introduced him to New Forest and District Sailability in Ringwood.

For the first time in his life Tom began to sail and now he leaves his wheelchair on the quayside and sails off into the distance.

Tom sails solo whenever he can and has satisfied his competitive streak by racing in a number of national events throughout the country.

Eric Blyth of Sailability said: “Tom’s story is one of many, and the boat being named Inspiration in recognition of Geoff’s achievements as a disabled sailing ambassador is truly apt.”

Geoff Holt has recently received a MBE.

n NFDS meets at Spinnaker on Tuesday and Friday between 10am and 4pm plus Wednesday afternoons for training, aimed at those who, like Tom, want to improve their skills.

NFDS need more volunteers on all three days, to cover duties from tea making, rigging boats to operating the safety boat. If you can help, please contact Eric Blyth on 02380 867438, or visit a session.

For more information go to newforestsailability.co.uk