Deaf man in solo circumnavigation

From: Cape Times, South Africa - Sep 29, 2004

By Staff Writer

A FORMER Capetonian is coming home this weekend as he attempts to become the first deaf person to sail solo around the world.

Charl de Villiers, on his Tartan 37 yacht called Island Time, started sailing from Palacios, on the south Texas coast, in March and headed directly to Panama.

From there, he left the Americas behind and sailed across the Pacific Ocean, following the trade wind route to American Samoa, where he stopped for provisions.

He then sailed west through the Torres Straits, across northern Australia, then headed west to the southern tip of Africa.

Weather permitting, De Villiers should dock at the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town on Friday, where he'll be based until October 8.

De Villiers, who is being sponsored by Vodacom, who provided telephony and cash, will meet some old friends in the city. He left Cape Town some years ago to settle in Texas.

©2004 The Cape Times. All rights reserved.