British sailor Geoff Holt, 44, of Southampton, England, received the coveted YJA Pantaenius award at a ceremony at Trinity House, London.
In 2010, Holt became the first quadriplegic to complete a solo passage across the Atlantic when he landed in the British Virgin Islands on Jan. 7, 2010, after 28 days at sea. He is also the first disabled person to sail solo around Great Britain.
Other finalists for the YJA Pantaenius Yachtsan of the Year award were Edward Wright, Finn World Champion and two-time World Cup winner and Lucy MacGregor and team, Ladies World Match Racing winners.
Robin Knox-Johnston, himself a three-time winner of the award, presented the trophy.
