We have taken it very easy while the children were small, always having cruised on "their" conditions, avoided heavy weather, sailing to "fun places", - for them and thus for all of us. This investment has paid back a million times and I am sure that too many macho men have spoiled their chances to go blue-water cruising with their wives or family solely due to the lack of showing consideration to their pals.

Adventuring is to increase your scope step by step, ensuring that everyone in the crew remains the feeling of control over the situation, hence having fun.

My first experience in keel-boat sailing, joining my uncle, aunt and cousin on their 27 foot Albin Vega No 7, they still sail today. A first-class adventure for a 15 year old boy, crossing the deep blue sea to a real offshore island: Gotland.

2 weeks, unknown mileage.

Even more adventurous it became, when my parents let their 17 year old son disappear to USA to join the 63 foot yawl REFANUT as the youngest member of the crew, delivery sail the yacht from Norfok, Virginia, rounding Key West, ending near Sarasota on the west coast of Florida. Would you have let your child do that, equipping him with an American Express Card and a condom? The first was difficult to use in the low-end bars I joined with the crew while the latter was definitely not finding any other use than provoking an embarrassment when I, some time later, found out I had forgotten it onboard. I am very thankful for the trust my parents put into me.

For full story, click here.

3 weeks, unknown mileage.

My own first keel boat: the smaller sister of the Albin Vega. With my own "ship" Celcicia, a 21 foot Albin Viggen, I sailed around in Bohuslän on the west coast of Sweden with my sister Jenny. The red line on the chart is hardly recognizable, so close we staid within vicinity of my parents' summer house, always in reach for a good meal at mamma's.

For the first time, I was the captain on a vessel of my own.

7 weeks, 500 nm.

In 1984, I joined a squadron organized by the Swedish "Viggen Club". Since it took place on the east coast of Sweden to Åland, I sailed onboard another Viggen as crew.

These waters are fantastic!

2.5 weeks, unknown mileage.

My sister and I on long distance sailing! The goal was to join my uncle on the bi-annual Vega International Friendship Regatta held in Heiligenhafen, Germany.

The way home was a fantastic experience, sailing from Heiligenhafen, Germany, to Falkenberg, Sweden in 54 hours non-stop.

4 weeks, 830 nm.

My first experiences of Norway, sailing here with a girl-friend (no, not yet Karolina).

Norway became one of my favorite sailing grounds with friendly Viking-type people, who always have been living by the sea side.

2 weeks, approx 300 nm.

Now, it became time for Karolina to enter the sailing scene and we did a similar Norway trip as in 1988. Same wonderful sailing ground, despite freezing cold. Why did we pick May to sail in? Not the most psychological introduction to sailing, but Karolina still loved it.

I was lucky there! So, we could eventually got married and prepared for our honey moon.

3 weeks, approx 400 nm.

Our honey moon! A 2 week charter in the Greek Cyclade. This was for sure a cruising ground to return to! Friendly, inexpensive, warm, wonderful anchorages.

In total happiness, time seemed to stand still during these weeks. Possibly we did not sail a lot of sea miles, but we sailed ahead in dreams and love for the cruising lifestyle.

2 weeks, 296 nm
(plus 469 nm with Celicia later that summer in Sweden)

The worst summer for decades. The aim was to round, if not Jylland, then at least Sjælland in Denmark. Constant headwind, weather-fronts, lows and rain with numerous gales, gave the summer of being blown into port waiting for better weather. 9 months later, our first daughter Jessica was born on 5 March.

In Hårbølle in Denmark we moored next to a huge boat, we thought. An isolated hull, working heater and several rooms under deck: a Hallberg-Rassy 29, which became our dream boat!

3 weeks plus week-ends, 506 nm.

Our daughter Jessica was merely 8 weeks old, when we all sailed our new dream boat we had found during the past winter: DATSY, our first Hallberg-Rassy. The 29 feet were a huge step up from the 21 feet of our Viggen.

For 4 weeks we stayed around Blekinge and Skåne in Southern Sweden, which was a perfect cruising ground for a young family with a small baby-girl, who kept us very occupied, day and night.

3 weeks plus week-ends, 580 nm.

In 1995 we had a one year old girl onboard. Old enough to undertake a longer sail along the West coast of Sweden, which was very successful.

The weather was fine, but at Midsummer, we were blown in again, resulting in another summer in Blekinge the following year.

4 weeks plus week-ends, 604 nm.

Similar to 1994, when Jessica was newborne, we chose the friendly archipelago of Blekinge, when our son Jonathan was born on Jessica's second birthday.

Again, we kept a low profile in sailing mileage, while Jonathan kept us engaged, day and night, just has Jessica had done two years prior.

4 weeks plus week-ends, 314 nm

Does anyone find a system in our bi-annual cruising-grounds? Since Jonathan hadn't seen Bohuslän, yet, we sailed there when he had become a boy of one year and a big sister having already become 3 years old.

4 weeks plus week-ends, 659 nm

With growing children we took the major step to order a new HR31, so 1998 became the last year with our HR29 DATSY.

One of the biggest advantages to sell our HR29 was that we made very good friends with the new owners of DATSY, who wanted to take delivery of their new boat in Bohuslän, which we had nothing against.

4 weeks, 400 nm

Totally sailed with DATSY: 2565,3 nm

Our first year with our HR 31 took us to Germany, Bornholm and the west coast of Sweden again.

5 weeks, 925 nm.

Getting bored with our West coast cruises? You are not alone, so in 2000, we decided to explore the east coast of Sweden and its beautiful archipelago.

We sailed single way, while our good friends from Holland, who bought DATSY, sailed back our HR31.

4 weeks, 490 nm
(plus 460 nm sailing back the boat, not by us)

The west coast is fantastic, so we sailed up the coast again, while later the same summer, Karolina joined the Hallberg-Rassy 46 Mahina-Tiare III.

4 weeks plus week-ends, 691 nm.

In addition to our family cruise, Karolina did a fantastic sail from Tromsø, Norway via Lofoten north of the Polar circle to Marstrand near Gothenburg, Sweden, crewing on Mahina Tiare III.

For full story, see here.

17 days, 1292 nm.

A dreadful summer with 5 gales in 2 weeks. We had sold our HR31 with delivery beginning of July, allowing us to receive a last sail on our HR31 during June. It was a bit difficult to sail a boat that we had already sold not wanting to take any risks. We didn't get far that summer.

2.5 weeks, 459 nm

Totally sailed with REGINA1: 3215 nm
(of which 461 sailed by our Dutch friends)

Luckily, we have understanding friends in Holland (the same who originally bought our HR29). In the mean time, they owned a HR312, which we were fortunate to borrow in totally new (tidal!) waters around the islands of the Netherlands.

For full story, see here.

10 days, 86 nm.

Our first year with our HR40. One can say that from here on, our cruising scope increases considerably. We start to dream about longer distances and a sabbatical, living the cruising life stile. We just don't know it yet... Karolina had successfully enjoyed long-distance sailing on Mahina Tiare III and the bigger boat we now owned, allowed us for longer distances while comfortably living aboard.

For full story, see here.

6 weeks plus week-ends, 2469,5 nm

Before taking the final decision of blue-water sailing, we did some more "testing" with several overnight sails covering even longer distances. By the end of 2004, we had sailed more than 4000 miles with our HR40 Regina. We also staid aboard while working, resulting in living 8 weeks aboard, giving a hint of what cruising is like. We loved it, and did not want to return ashore that autumn.

For full story, see here.

4 weeks plus week-ends, 1717 nm.

In 2005, our "Blue Water Year" commenced, which we have been looking forward to for a long period of time.

2005 took us from Sweden, via Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Madeira, Canaries to Bequia, Caribbean.

For full story, see here.

7 months, 6.793 nm.

Our year starts in Bequia, Caribbean, from where we continue along the Caribbean islands during our "Blue Water Year" and then sail back to Sweden.

For full story, see here.

8 months, 6.342 nm.

Total during our 2005/6 "Blue Water Year":
15 months onboard, 13.135 nm.

A summer in the Baltic visiting Denmark, Åland, Germany and the High Coast of Northern Sweden.

For full story, see here.

3 months, 1.952 nm.