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A rainbow over Stuart
13:21 p.m. EST Mar 4, 2004
As a child, it was soon apparent that Stuart had difficulties with his legs - cerebral palsy had left him spastic in his lower limbs. Several major operations on his legs and feet improved his ability to walk.
Stuart was always keen to show that he is as able as others, but for him taking part in sports invariably meant supporting his friends from the sidelines. Well, you can break a man's legs, but it's harder to kill his spirit.
After leaving school Stuart traveled alone around the world, visiting Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and North America. Although a great success for him, the strenuous nature of the trip required major surgery when he returned home.
Stuart then set out to break a record in kart. Just before the event, a racing accident in the kart kept him in a wheelchair for many months and off work for nearly a year.
That's when he decided to go to sea. Initially trained by Pete Goss, Stuart went on to amass over 20,000 miles ocean experience. Skills learnt included sail repair, radio use, navigation and general boat husbandry.
Now, Stuart set his sights to be the first disabled man to row across an ocean. Stuart left Playa Santiago on November 15, 2003 to row the Atlantic from La Gomera to Barbados.
Yesterday, he crossed the Finish line after more than 100 days alone out at sea.
Reports the team that went out to meet him:
"As we searched the horizon in exactly the direction where we knew he was, a rainbow appeared, with the foot exactly on his bearing. This in itself was a good omen, but what Stue doesn't yet know as I write this bulletin is that his family have all written a card of congratulations for him, the front cover of which, is a rainbow. An omen indeed. After a few brief snatched sightings of Macmillan Spirit came the good visual contact we all strove for, and with it, a VHF call from Stue; Good to see you all!"
No more sidelines for Stue.
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