Additional information
by Halvor Nome (Editor), Martin Vennesland (Author), Anne E. Brevig (Author)
In this seventh and last book of the Series, Anne and Martin encounter some of the toughest and most dramatic challenges of their entire voyage, while at the same time experiencing exhilarating highs. Feel the sheer terror when they get caught in a giant fish net on the Arabian Sea; sail with them through the pirate infested waters of the Gulf of Aden into the dreaded Red Sea feared by sailors for its vicious head winds. Explore with them the mysteries of the Arab world with its mosques and minarets, macho men in long, white robes, veiled women in black abayas, camel crossings, crowded souks with exotic herbs and spices, fragrant perfumes and gold, frankincense and myrrh. Tour the desert accompanied by armed guards, experience traditional coffee ceremonies, witness poverty beyond belief and the last slave trading post in the world. Finally, Anne and Martin battle their way to the safety of the Suez Canal and Israel where they cross their own course from four years prior, receiving a hero's welcome and even meet Shimon Peres. Then, the adventurous couple are homeward bound after 9 fabulous years on the 7 seas! The books in the Seven Seas Adventures Series are not just any old travelogues for adventurers. Rather, it is a collection of highlights from encounters with "ordinary" people from different cultures and backgrounds who live a life much different from what most of us are used to. Anne and Martin certainly learned that what we take for granted is an elusive dream for others. The books "answer" a multitude of questions posed by travellers in general as well as prospective offshore sailors. 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, "Nor Siglar". She became their one and only home for 15 years. Neither imagined that they were going to spend 9 years on the 7 seas and sail more than 56,000 nautical miles around the world! Anne and Martin's bluewater adventure was not about breaking any records. Its main focus was 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. Their 9-years on the 7 Seas circumnavigation onboard "Nor Siglar", which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure packed with drama and excitement, has been documented in books and magazine articles and is now available in the "Seven Seas Adventures Series".
Author Biography
Anne 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.
