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I will skip the baby phases. No much to say, but an interest in boats can already be noticed.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1963-Escapade-712x1024.jpg)
My first sailing cruise in 1963.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1969-Arpege.jpg)
And sailing turned in a passion.
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Years and years of regattas all over the year. Almost taking over my medical studies!
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1975-Madame-De.jpg)
In 1975, after just three years working as a countryside medical doctor, I purchased a Dufour 35 which was at this time, one of the finest boat in Europe.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1977-A-la-radio.jpg)
And with it, I sailed the Atlantic in 1977, direction Dominica, with the idea of settling in the Caribbean. No GPS in this time. Here communicating with my father by radio am.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1977-Au-large-2-1024x679.jpg)
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1977-Av-le-grain-1024x736.jpg)
This was in 1977 between Martinique and St Lucia, sailing back from the Grenadines. Later I did a painting out of this picture. Probably my real first painting.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1980-Les-Saintes-1.jpg)
After one year in Dominica, I settled in “Les Saintes”, south of Guadeloupe where I was doctoring in both islands., moving from one to another, day or night, with a speed boat. Notice the boat shaped house which was the doctor’s residence and my boat moored just out of it.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1980-plongee-1024x678.jpg)
There, I began to dive.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1991-expo-Arc-1024x672.jpg)
My first show in 1985 at the Arcachon sailing club. Painting was still a hobby at this time.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1990-mariage-2-1024x695.jpg)
After few very active years in Les Saintes, I turned crazy about this new science: computers. I then built one of the very first medical software which pushed me to go back to France where I met my second half, Virginie and we got married in 1990.
![](http://new.patrickchevailler.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1995-au-prés-1024x685.jpg)
But that did not stop me sailing and racing whenever I could.