SA’s famous ‘silent voyager’ back in EL
2008/10/31
FOUR years after travelling around the world alone, the “silent
voyager” is back in the country of his birth, visiting his family in
East London.
Charl de Villiers, who has been based in Texas for the past 17 years,
made headlines four years ago when he became the first deaf sailor to
circumnavigate the world single- handedly.
His father Johan jokingly told the Dispatch that De Villiers only
visited his family when he was injured – the last time was after he
had broken his leg playing rugby.
This time around, De Villiers injured his arm while repairing a boat
in Texas. Doctors told him it would take six weeks for his arm to heal
so, as he was unable to repair boats or sail with one arm, he took the
opportunity for a trip home.
“Once I’m in Texas I never know when I’ll see my family
again,” he said with a chuckle.
A father of two, his daughter is married to a rancher, and his son is
in his final year at university.
“It feels good to be back in South Africa, it’s the most
beautiful country in the world,” said De Villiers, who has been deaf
since the age of seven, but lip-reads English and Afrikaans.
He became deaf after suffering an allergic reaction to medication he
was given for severe burns.
Today he repairs and delivers both power and sail boats for a living
and his new career has led to him sailing the great American lakes of
Erie, Huron and Michigan. He has even sailed the Mississippi River.
“Going down the Mississippi River, I felt like Mark Twain,” he
said.
Between boat work, De Villiers has managed to start a rugby club with
South African expatriates and gives motivational speeches.
No doubt he talks about his epic 2004 voyage in his 11.2m Tartan
yacht “Island Times”, which he bought in September 2000.
His amazing feat started in March 2004 when he sailed from Palacios,
in Texas.
Seven months and 13 days later, he was welcomed back by 300 people,
including family members, at the same spot.
His journey took him through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific
and Indian oceans. He overcame equipment failure, adverse weather
conditions, a near collision with a freighter, and even fell victim to
a robbery on his yacht.
Next week, he sets off for Gauteng and Limpopo to visit his brothers.
– By ASA SOKOPO
Source: http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=265090
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