Gerry Hughes is a British sailor who became the first profoundly deaf man to sailsingle-handed across the Atlantic Ocean. He crossed the finishing line off Castle Hill, Newport at 11:30 am local time (4:30 pm UTC) on Saturday 3 July 2005 after 35 days of sailing. Hughes also became the world's first deaf yachtsman to sail single-handed around the world to pass the five great capes.He departed Troon, Scotland on 1 September 2012 and returned to Troon on 8 May 2013. Dr Hughes was added as number 201 on Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s list of elite solo circumnavigators.