Letters from the Sea: Written Aboard the Sailboat 'Northern Light' During a 61-Day Ocean Voyage

by Deborah Shapiro

Letters to children who have never been sailing written aboard the sailing yacht Northern Light during an 8,000 mile ocean voyage. The author describes life aboard a small sailboat in mid-ocean, close to birds, dolphins and sea life of all kinds.

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Deborah Shapiro is an American born explorer and photographer who, together with with her husband, veteran Swedish sailor and explorer, Rolf Bjelke, has made three voyages to the polar regions from their home harbor in Sweden.

In the 1980s and 90s the couple completed two round-trips to Antarctica in their 40 foot sailboat, Northern Light, including one unassisted winter-over. From 2005 to 2008 they circumnavigated Antarctica, in four consecutive summers, visiting sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula for a third time. Their combined voyages covered a distance of 243,000 miles.

They received the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America for their daring 33,000 mile voyage from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Shapiro and Bjelke have written several books, including Letters from the Sea, Northern Light, Time On Ice, They are currently working on their latest book, Pearls Around the White Continent.

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, it's actually not written by Rolf, but by his wife Deborah Shapiro. It's "letters" that she wrote to her nieces and nephews during the sailing trip across the Atlantic that took them home from their 16-month hibernation in the Antarctic. Crazy people. Anyhow, Deborah told me she could have just as well been writing the letters to me and my siblings, so it has a special place in my heart!