A triple amputee former British soldier is training to become the first para sailor to sail across the Pacific Ocean solo.

Craig Wood, 33, has been living on a 41ft boat with his fiancé, Renata, and their two toddlers, Amaru, three and Madeira, 18-months-old, since 2017.

Now he's training to spend 80 days sailing 6,000 nautical miles from Mexico to Japan to raise money for charity.

He lost both of his legs and his left hand in an IED blast whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2009 - describing life as "very difficult" in the years after."

A keen windsurfer before the blast and after being encouraged by his mum to "live life again", Craig decided to take up sailing."

He was taught how to steer with his prosthetics and now has a specially adapted 41ft catamaran called Sirius II.

His Pacific Ocean odyssey came off the back of "an itch to break a world record."

Planning to set off in January 2025 from La Paz, Mexico, Craig has given himself a two-month window when the weather is favourable.

Craig and his family have so far been to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica and more.

Craig, a former soldier originally from Doncaster, said: "I've been getting an itch for a while to do something big and break a world record. "

"I thought with sailing it'd be an easy one for me to break but I decided I didn't want it to be easy. "

"I thought Japan would be a good trip. "

"But now it's turned into this mind-altering challenge that is making people realise that although I'm disabled I can still partake in a sport that everybody finds difficult."

Craig lost his legs and left hand whilsts on a routine foot patrol in Afghanistan in 2009.

He stepped on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) after stopping for a water break and immediately blacked out.

Upon returning from Afghanistan, Craig says getting used to life without the use of his legs and hand was "difficult."

He said: "Being told you can't do certain things and that realisation that it was true was very difficult. "

"My mum put me on the right track. She told me I can try to live my life again or keep crying."

"Being in the wheelchair was probably the hardest."

"It opened up a whole new world to me about accessibility issues. "

"Getting into places, getting into a car etc."

Craig, who two children, three and one, wasn't sure he would be able to partake in sailing but decided to give it a go.

He said: "I thought I'd be able to partake in it but as a passenger more so than the person in charge. I didn't realise it would be at the capacity I'm at now."

"When I first started my sailing with disabilities I was in a boat where you steer with your feet and pull the ropes with your hands. "

"But I couldn't do that so I had to street with my left arm prosthetic and use my right arm to pull the ropes - it was very difficult. "

"I'm not in a race scenario anymore and I've had specific things made for me - so the ropes go back to the steering wheel and it's all very easy to see and use."

"I have autopilot for me too so I can sort ropes out after."

"But you are out in the middle of the ocean - so there is that!"

Asked why he enjoys sailing so much, Craig says it "levels the playing field."

He added: "Right now I'm in Switzerland with my partner's family who work on farms and I'd be useless at helping with that. "

"But I know if her family came to the boat I'd be the most handy person there. "

"I've developed a skill set that levels the footing. Everyone needs a certain skill."

"No one wants to be an incompetent fool, do they?!"

If he completes his mission, Craig will be the first recognised para sailor to complete the crossing.

He said: "It puts a bit more pressure on it, to be honest. "

"Now it's more about changing the perception around what people can do. "

"The record is clearly important but now it's more about changing perceptions."

Whilst on his solo mission, Craig will spend most of the day tracking weather reports and chatting with family.

"I'm hoping not to encounter any storms. "

"I have access to satellite communications which gives me updates on the weather. "

"But if I am caught out, I'll be getting out the way or battening down the hatches and reducing the sail. "

"If that's not enough, chuck out the sea anchor."

"I'll be passing by Hawaii and using that as a potential pitstop in case anything has gone wrong."

Craig says his fiancé, Renata, and his family have been "really supportive" about his mission."

He added: "I couldn't ask for any more support if I tried. "

"I think she's a bit worried but I don't mention the weather!"

Craig is raising money for Blesma and Turn to Starboard - and has so far raised just over £3,500.

You can donate here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/craigwoodsails#start