Charl de Villiers did Std 6 and 7 at Komga School. He was eight years old when he was severely burnt in an accident that left him what is described as "profoundly" deaf. His deafness resulted from infection while recovering from 80 percent burns received in a children's braaivleis accident. After recovering he went to a special school to learn to lip read, which he does in both English and Afrikaans.

His grandmother, Agnes de Villiers, was Mayor of Komga for three years and mayoress for 20, and as she was a former maths, English and Latin teacher, Charl's parents decided it was a good idea that she help him with school lessons he was unable to hear. Agnes was the widow of Tony de Villiers, mayor of the town from 1948 to 1967. He died in 1970.

While at school there Charl met and became best friends with MornČ du Plessis, who was to become headboy of Queen's College in 1979. As 14-year-olds they defined their dreams. MornČ set his sights on following his bird-watching hobby and becoming an ornithologist while Charl said he was going to sail around the world.

MornČ has featured in this column before for his research into red-billed woodhoopoes and advice on attracting hole nesting birds to gardens. He is now director of the Percy Fitzpatrick Ornithological Institute in Cape Town.

So how did Charl get interested in sailing? Johan de Villiers, who lives in Morgan's Bay and is a proud father, says as a 10-year-old Charl and his brother Gerrie delivered newspapers in Durbanville to save enough money to buy a Dabchick yacht.

"That Dabchick was probably the only one ever built that was sailed at Zeekoevlei, Morgan Bay lagoon and on the Limpopo River," he told the Chiel. Sadly Gerrie died last year after suffering a cerebral aneurysm while sailing his Dart catamaran on the Kei River.

Charl, 43, is an adventurous and active person. He has done more than 1500 skydives.

He, his wife Beverly and two children emigrated to the United States 13 years ago where he worked for a plastics company. He resigned and spent the last six months preparing his 37-foot yacht Island Time for the voyage.

Charl set off on March 6 from Palacios, a small port in Texas, across the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean at the start of his 30000-mile journey and his most recent communication indicated that although his Autohelm had broken, he is making good progress. He will take on crew to go through the Panama Canal, but he's on his own from there with 9000 miles non-stop across the Pacific Ocean to Australia; from there to Cape Town where father and family will meet him; before tackling the final stretch back to Texas.

He will need to compensate for his hearing impediment by using other senses to warn of dangers. Vibration or unusual motion will alert him. Electronics will also help. Yachts have audible alarms for problems like an overheating engine, water in the bilge or other vessels close by. Charl will be alerted by a flashing light.

Rainwater caught on the sails will supplement his water supply and the boat is stocked with food for the long passage.

Last month Johan (also a Komga School old boy - more about that another day) was in Texas to bid his son bon voyage. They pored over charts together and Johan helped Charl hook up a satellite phone, supplied by Vodacom, to two laptop computers so that he can e-mail news to family in the US and South Africa.

Beverly has set up a website www.silentvoyager.com if you wish to follow the trip.

Thought for today

He who does not enjoy his own company is usually right - Coco Chanel, French fashion designer (1883-1971).

Aliwal water babes

From our files ...