CRAIG'S STORY

Inspiring, infectious, live-free attitude

Craig, an 18-year-old from a village near Doncaster, had been in the Army for just a year when his first tour in Sangin, Afghanistan, changed his life forever.

“We were on a routine patrol and stopped for a drink,” he recalls. “As we set off, I walked a few metres, saw a white flash, and knew something was very wrong.” He lost both legs, his left hand, and suffered extensive injuries in the IED blast. After 14 days in a coma and countless surgeries, it took eight months to walk again and years of rehabilitation.

Returning home as a triple amputee, Craig turned to the hobby his father had introduced him to — sailing. It became his escape, his freedom, and eventually his purpose. “It helped me realise that anything is possible,” he says.

Fifteen years on, Craig lives aboard Sirius II with his wife, Renata, and their two children. Initially training for the 2016 Paralympics, he later pursued his true passion, sailing the world, including Patagonia and Cape Horn.

Overcoming personal struggles, fatherhood gave him clarity. Today, he operates an open boat policy, welcoming others aboard to share food, fellowship, and sailing lessons. It was on Sirius that he met Renate, a Swiss traveller. Their shared adventures led to a family, with both children born during their travels.

Craig’s mission now is to inspire others—whether by tying their first knot or finding purpose in life.

What's next

Craig is no stranger to overcoming challenges. After sustaining life-changing injuries in Afghanistan, he found renewed purpose through sailing — a journey that not only pushed his physical limits but also reshaped his outlook on life. Now, as he takes on his greatest challenge yet — a Pan-Pacific voyage — Craig is already looking ahead to how he can use his experience to help others.

Once his voyage is complete, Craig plans to qualify as a counsellor, specialising in supporting fellow veterans dealing with trauma. He understands that for many, the scars of service run deep — whether through the physical impact of losing a limb or the invisible weight of PTSD. His goal is to not only raise awareness of what people with disabilities, especially those from the military, can achieve but also to take real, practical steps to make a difference.

A key part of this will be inviting veterans onboard his boat, using sailing as a form of therapy. Having personally experienced the sense of purpose and freedom that being out on the water provides, Craig is passionate about sharing this with others. He already works with veterans, teaching them to sail, and finds immense fulfillment in seeing them regain confidence and resilience through the experience.

Craig’s mission is simple: to help those who have given so much find new direction, new strength, and a renewed belief in what’s possible — on the water and beyond.

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