"Do you have any favourite places?" "Were you ever in danger?" "What would you do differently?" "Were you ever sick?" These are but a few of the many questions Norwegian-Canadian couple, Anne Brevig and Martin Vennesland were often asked after they had finished their 56,000 nautical mile circumnavigation immortalized in their immensely popular book, "9 Years on the 7 Seas with Nor Siglar". At the peak of their careers, Anne Brevig and Martin Vennesland made the decision of their lives: they chose freedom and a highly uncertain future on the high seas instead of secure jobs and the safety and comfort of life ashore. In order to finance their dream, they sold their house and most of their belongings and moved onboard their 40-foot sailboat. It became their one and only home for 15 years. Time and again, when promoting their bestseller at boat shows, slide shows on-board cruise ships and a multitude of nautical and cultural organizations, people would invariably ask the very same questions. Hence the idea to collect the most frequently answered ones in a handy little FAQ-book. And here it is: "A Circumnavigator's FAQ", a book chock full of information, which will be useful to sailors and discriminating travellers alike. NOR SIGLAR's blue water adventure is not about breaking any records. Its main focus is meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures - encounters that take on entirely different dimensions when sailing off the beaten track far away from the traditional tourist routes. Here you can get straight answers from a couple who sought freedom from the everyday grind by cutting all ties and set sails for the unknown to live their dream and explore life on the other side of the horizon. During their once-in-a-lifetime fabulous, but also challenging adventure, which was filled with drama and excitement, strange and enchanting encounters, heartwarming hospitality and places of breathtaking beauty, they visited 76 countries and island nations covering a distance equaling 2.5 times around the world at equator. So now you are about to read an abbreviated version of the wisdom gained by these two experienced globetrotters who lived 15 years on their 40-foot sailboat, nine of them offshore. Not only to they share valuable, real-life tips and ideas on how to enjoy the unknown and avoid dangers, but they also offer life-tested advice and recommendations. One of the most Frequently Asked Questions was: "Do you have one all-important advice to other travelers?" Read the adventurous couple's answer to this - and many other questions in this book, which cover the topics of Planning, Executing and Surviving an Around-the-World Adventure.
About the Author: Anne E. Brevig grew up in Halden, Norway as a country girl on a farm. She always dreamt of seeing the world and began her adventures with life as an au pair, studying languages in Switzerland, Germany and the USA. In New York, she embarked on a career in international shipping and later became comptroller of a large Norwegian shipping company's Vancouver offices. When Anne met Martin at the age of 38, she was completely new to sailboats. Having grown up inland, she didn't learn to swim until she was 16, was afraid of the water and became seasick easily. Anne never thought in her wildest imagination that one day she would exchange her comfortable life ashore with the often extreme challenges of life at sea - a decision she has never regretted! Martin Vennesland was born with salt water in his blood. He grew up by the tang of the sea in the small village of Sagesund on the south coast of Norway and has sailed all his life. The dream of travelling to exotic and distant shores on his own keel took shape at an early age. As a young man he emigrated to Canada to become a professional forester. When taking early retirement to venture offshore, Martin was head of one of Canada's largest forestry consultingfirms. An avid outdoors person, he is happiest in the mountains, at his woodlot tending his cedars and Douglas firs or sailing on the high seas. At the peak of their careers, Anne and Martin made the decision of their lives: they chose freedom and a highly uncertain future on the high seas instead of secure jobs and the safety and comfort of life ashore. In order to finance their dream, they sold their house and most of their belongings and moved onboard their 40-foot sailboat. It became their one and only home for 15 years. Neither imagined that they were going to spend 9 years on the 7 seas and journey more than 56,000 nautical miles! "Why are you rushing through Paradise?" homesteaders on an exotic Robinson Crusoe island asked. The question became a motto for Anne and Martin during the rest of their voyage. Slowing down, they were able to establish personal contacts with locals. The book is saturated with enchanting encounters, unique experiences and drama. Anne and Martin have crossed the big oceans and visited 76 countries and island nations. They have realized their dreams. Now they hope that their book will inspire others to pursue their dreams - to dare to take the leap. It certainly gives a rare opportunity to live vicariously in NOR SIGLAR'S wake.