When South African Neal Peterson was 11, he dreamed of being a yachtsman.

But being black, living in a segregated area in a racially divided country and having a physical handicap, he was the least likely person to become an international sportsmen.

Less than 15 years later, he had overcome the physical, financial and political hurdles to became the first black person to sail solo around the world ? on a yacht he built himself.

Students at Prospect Primary were treated this week to a visit from Mr. Peterson, who is currently in Bermuda to participate in tomorrow's Careers Fair at the Bermuda College.

Mr. Peterson was born with only one hip joint, in a working-class family during South Africa's violent racial era.

"When you overcome obstacles, you become strong," he told youngsters at Prospect Primary.

His dream was to have his own yacht and race solo across the world's toughest oceans, but it was never easy.

"Many said I would never make it. They laughed at me when I told them about my dream," he said.

He persevered, overcame his handicap and worked hard to save the money that would give him the means to eventually design and build his own boat. "Disadvantages were really advantages to learn from and overcome," he said.

He spoke to students about realising goals and turning challenges into advantages and challenged students to realign their way of thinking to ultimately better their quality of life.

Although his audience was young, many responded to his stories of risking it all on the high seas to win the ultimate race around the world.

"Everything I needed to know about boats and sailing I learned from books, even how to navigate," he said.

He told the youngsters that success or failure was their choice and while there was always the potential to get hurt, there were no barriers ? only solutions. "I was about 800 miles from the nearest doctor when I split my eyebrow open and I knew I would die if I did not stop the bleeding, so I used a clothing peg to hold the cut closed while I sailed in search of help," he said, a clothing peg once again sticking out above his left eye.

Once the laughing subsided, he told students that this, just like his boat sustaining damage in a storm during the second leg of the race, was merely a setback, not a failure ? something he would overcome.

Because of the damage to his boat, he was forced to pull out of the race.

However, this did not stop him from entering the 27,000 mile race around the world four years later, this time completing it.

"I was alone on the ocean for 195 days and when I finished it was the realisation of an 18-year dream," he said.

Mr. Peterson published his third book, 'Journey of a Hope Merchant' five months ago and today lives in Charleston, South Carolina in the US where he teaches, gives motivational talks and writes.

He will be delivering his "No Barriers, Only Solutions" motivational talk at the Bermuda College's Careers Fair today at 11.15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. in the College's auditorium.