For Charl de Villiers, the world is silent. Though it is devoid of sound, it is vibrant with action and rich with experience. Deaf since a burn accident destroyed his hearing as a child, he dreamed of becoming the first deaf person to sail solo around the world.

He started from the small town of Palacios, on the south Texas coast, and sailed directly to Panama. From there, he left the Americas behind and sailed his Tartan 37, Island Time, across the Pacific Ocean, following the trade wind route to American Samoa and a stop for provisions. He then continued west through the Torres Straits and across the top of Australia. After a stop in Darwin, Australia, and a happy reunion with his family, he turned south and west to the southern tip of Africa and rounded the Cape of Good Hope to stop in his native country of South Africa. After a hero's welcome in South Africa, he continued northwest across the South Atlantic Ocean to enter the Caribbean Sea near Trinidad, and then sailed directly back to Palacios.

His voyage is complete - he arrived in Palacios on December 19, 2004. He did indeed set a world record - the first deaf person in history to sail alone around the world.

Businesses and organizations who are looking for a motivational speaker who has overcome adversity with vision, resourcefulness and determination should to schedule a speaking engagement with Charl.