"What will a journey like this do to me? How would I, a big city woman, cope with sailing around the world for seven years?"
"Some books take you on a journey - this one sets sail with you. Anna has written more than just a travel memoir; this is a raw, beautiful, and deeply personal reflection on
life, fear, courage, and the vastness of both the ocean and the human soul. With every wave and every challenge, she invites us to question what truly matters. I was completely captivated."
- Sumitra Sjöström
It began with an undeniable calling during a summer sail along the Swedish coast. Within weeks, my husband Arthur and I made a radical decision: we sold our apartment, stepped away from our careers - mine as an executive coach, his as an architect - and put everything into buying our ocean home: a 53-foot Amel Super Maramu ketch.
We believed that circumnavigating the globe as safely, consciously, and thoroughly as possible was adventure enough. Our motto was wave by wave - a practice of staying completely present with whatever the ocean and life presented, one moment at a time.
Out on the open ocean - with thirty days at sea without another boat in sight, and through the rough waters of the Indian Ocean - I discovered that long passages didn't break me; they opened me. Guided by themes rather than a nautical log, Wave by Wave takes you through:
- The courage to jump: Daring to leave comfort behind and become a complete beginner again - meeting the unknown - at the peak of your career.
- The layers of letting go: How shedding possessions, a home, and financial safety was only the first step in releasing old identity, stress, and inner expectations.
- Stillness in the vastness: Discovering how multi-week ocean crossings, meditation, and writing transformed fear into deep presence and creativity.
- A partnership tested by the elements: Thirty years of shared love and spiritual growth carrying us around the earth.
- A voyage that circles home: From the disciplined sail to New Zealand and an unexpected 2.5-year pause, across 45,000 nautical miles back to Las Palmas - transformed by the quiet wisdom of the sea.
At the end of each chapter, you will find personal reflections and questions designed to invite your own inner dreamer forward.
Advance Praise for Wave by Wave"I found Anna's book very informative, especially when she describes her personal experiences, doubts, and how she dealt with them. It is certainly a valuable source of information - and inspiration - for anyone planning a long voyage."
- Jimmy Cornell, World-renowned sailor and author
"This is a new and unusual book - the uniqueness of this book is how it weaves together physical sailing with a spiritual journey. " - Roger Nilson, MD, Round-the-world racing sailor
"Anna's book is an amazing travelogue of circumnavigation and soul-seeking. Both journeys are equally captivating, full of observations of fascinating material and spiritual details."
- Kristofer Erlandson
"A long-anticipated book about sailing around the world. Anna brings us close to the wonders of life on the oceans while also sharing a parallel inner journey. A book for anyone navigating change in life."
- Ann Paulin, Long-time cruiser
Wave by Wave is an inspiring invitation to slow down, listen to your heart's quiet whisper, and dare to trust where life wants to take you.
