The Circle Eight - A 17,000 mile experience

A conference by Yves Plante

I discovered sailing by accident. It was at the end of the 70's. I was living in the NW of Quebec (Abitibi) at that time. A friend who worked at an outdoor resort invited me to a bit of boating. With a 30 km wind, we crossed the lake a few times. It was fun and despite overturning a few times, it was magic. I had discovered a way to explore the big lakes I had never dared to cross in a canoe. The lakes grew bigger and bigger. They became the St-Lawrence, the gulf and seas that soon had names like the Bahamas and the Antilles, and then the high-seas. From simple curiosity, sailing had become a passion and from passion to work. A work more captivating than any other could become.

After having initiated hundreds of others and giving a taste to thousands, 10 years of "business sailing", I still had not my fill. I wanted more and even more. An occasion presented itself and a crooked figure eight from Quebec to south Africa was soon drawn on my world map. The only thing left was to follow it on water. Easier said than done. Now that this dream has become a reality, another is emerging. A little wiser but easier to accomplish. This one I see in the future is called Mountain and Sea.

To be continued... March 19th at Le Cabaret du Saint-Cyrille in Sorel.