Join us on the journey of a lifetime as we share our story of learning to sail and then sailing around the world in a Hallberg-Rassy 42E.
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Join us on the journey of a lifetime as we share our story of learning to sail and then sailing around the world in a Hallberg-Rassy 42E.
Join us on the journey of a lifetime as we share our story of learning to sail, and then sailing around the world in a Hallberg-Rassy 42E. Our book is more than just a tale of adventure, it’s a call to action to pursue your dreams
Experience this incredible journey with me.
Feel like one of the crew, as I take you to places you have only dreamed of. I can promise you a lot of laughs, a touch of history and meetings with some incredible people.
Let this book inspire you to think deeply about the dreams you carry in your heart; and help you to believe again that we each have within us exactly what it takes to make those dreams come true.
You might not wish to head off in a sailboat around the World. You might wish to change what is right in front of you. My wish is that these stories of my adventures will give you that extra boost to launch yourself.
It is time to slip our moorings and follow the call of the oceans ..!
When you read about someone sailing around the world, it’s usually a dotcom millionaire or a professional adventurer. “Brave or Stupid” tells a very different story. It’s an Everyman Tale about a middle-aged, seasick electrician – with no money – who suddenly, and for no reason, decides to sail around the world. It’s the story of Yanne Larsson, a man with a dream born not out of a passion for sailing, or a search for identity, or the need for a challenge. This is the story of a simple handshake. One of the old-fashioned iron-clad ones.
A casual suggestion over wine, with best friend Carl Andersson, turns into one of those ideas that just won’t go away. Twenty-four hours later, a handshake decides it.
The little details – buying a boat, learning to sail and saving up money – take five years, but in 2002, the two men leave Helsingborg, Sweden on a three-year voyage that will change them forever. Storms, tropical diseases, drama, love and comedy – their story is an adventure like no other. “Brave or Stupid” is a book for anyone who has ever gone beyond what is sensible and realistic, to discover a whole new world outside and a whole new person inside.This is a book for anyone who still believes in the power of dreams. And handshakes…
From laughter to tears and everything in between — these heartfelt reviews show how Brave or Stupid has inspired readers around the world. See how this story has left its mark on those who’ve taken the journey.
Could I give 6 stars? If you are a sailor or not, you will dream thanks to two exceptional Swedish guys. I have read a lot of books on sailing adventures but this one is at the top. Very funny and very human. You will discover a fantastic world and you will want to do exactly the same thing, take a sailing ship and make a circumnavigation. Congrats and thanks. Skol för Fan!
A great account of an amazing and remarkable adventure. Two determined and resourceful men achieving against the odds. The book has so much humour and gives you a real sense of the characters they met along the way. A must read for anyone who loves travel and meeting new people. Thoroughly recommend it
A great travel story of a unique circumnavigation—amusing and well-written. You don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy it. I couldn’t put it down! I originally bought it for my husband as a Valentine’s gift but started reading it early. I was too impatient to wait, so I downloaded the Kindle version for myself! I truly miss the two skippers and their adventures now that I’ve finished the book.
Tom Cunliffe has been a regular contributor to Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Sail magazine,Classic Boat and 'Sailing Today' for many years.[3]A professional writer since 1986, Cunliffe has won the Best Book of the Sea award twice, for Topsail and Battleaxe and Hand, Reef and Steer.[4] He is author of the important Shell Channel Pilot for the English Channel.
Brave or Stupid by Tracey Christiansen, Yanne Larsson and Carl-Erik Andersson is a rich narration of how two best friends fulfilled their dream of sailing around the world. Carl and Yanne had been best friends for very many years, and one day they thought of taking a sailing trip around the world. What started out as just a loose idea by Carl soon became a serious goal and the two started planning what would turn out to be the adventure of their lives. For five years, the two planned and prepared, ensuring that they would be absolutely ready for the challenges of the sea. In June 2002, after more than two decades of a solid friendship, they left Sweden and their friends and families behind, and set off to see the world aboard their beloved boat. Their story takes you from island to island, city to city, beach to beach, and all the glory and challenges of the three-year journey. Come along now and enjoy the trip of your life as you see the world through their experiences.
Brave or Stupid by Tracey Christiansen, Yanne Larsson and Carl-Erik Andersson is an amazing story about a journey around the world filled with bravery, inspiration, going after your dreams, and living life to the fullest. The experience each part of the journey gave Carl and Yanne was simply priceless and even the numerous challenges they had to overcome just added to making the journey even more memorable as they moved from one destination to another, taking in life and learning the different cultures and lifestyles along the way. The numerous pictures of the different places they visited added to the beauty of the story, especially the breathtaking images of the islands and the beaches. Their experience is beyond description and reading their story had me thinking that anything is possible; all you have to do is want it badly enough and work towards achieving it. So, Brave or Stupid? I would say brave, definitely brave.
BASED ON 175 RATINGS
Our journey wasn’t just about sailing — it was about breaking limits, facing fears, and showing that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Brave or Stupid is here to spark your courage and push you toward your own adventure.
Our book aims to inspire you to pursue your dreams. We hope that our journey inspires you to take that first step towards the unknown.
Many let fear hold them back — but we’ve learned that chasing your dreams is far more rewarding than standing still. We hope our story gives you the push to begin yours.
Our story is unlike any other, taking the reader through the ups and downs of learning to sail, following the wind around the world and the epiphanies that surfaced during that time.
The logical explanations we find for not doing things can also be the logical explanation for doing that exact asme thing. Yes, circumstances differ, but outlook and attitude can shift a lot of obstacles.
We want everyone to be inspired to live their best lives. We hope our account will leave you ready to chase your next adventure.
Our combined approach to personal challenges, mental fortitude and finding the courage to take risks, make this one of the best books about sailing ever written.
Thanks to the renowned travel and hospitality critic, Alexander Lobrano, who described us as “one of the best little hotels in France”, our number of website views the following day went into orbit!
Marseillan 31-08-2019
Who would have thought it?
This is what The New York Times, is saying today:“
…I walked into the old town of Marseillan to the five-room B & B RueGalilee, where I discovered one of the most delightful small hotels I’ve everfound in France. This old stone house with blue wooden shutters and boxes ofred geraniums was meticulously renovated by the Swedish owner JanneLarsson. The generous Scandinavian style breakfast, including herring andhouse-smoked salmon, that was served the next morning was excellent, too.”
When I first walked through the old town of Marseillan with my Father, andfound this house on the corner of Rue Galilee, a light flashed in my head andthe words sprang from my heart: “I want to make this the Best Bed & Breakfastin the South of France – with 4 B’s. Best Bed, Best Breakfast, Best Bathroomsand Best Bar”
Four years later, it looks like my dreams are coming true.
I am so happy, and so proud… and looking forward to welcoming You to RueGalilee. Come and visit us, and hopefully you will feel the same way too.
None of this would have been possible without the love and support of manyfriends and family; most especially David, Khalid and Romain for their buildingskills, Manuella for translaZng absolutely everything, and Roberto for hispaZent guidance through all the legal stuff. Together we made it happen!
For the full flavour of our special part of France, here is the link to the complete article:-
I have always dreamed of different things. Those dreams have become goals that I’ve aimed to realise … one way or another. Some have taken a little longer than others to come to fruition, but I am happy to claim a couple of notable Big Dreams, now fulfilled.
My first achievement was to sail around the world, with my friend Calle, in our Halberg Rassey 42E yacht. As a seasick electrician, with no previous experience, this took a lot of planning but the ensuing three-year journey – packed with great encounters and a few scary adventures – made it all worthwhile. You can read more about it in the book published under the title “Brave or Stupid” and make your own decision as to whether it was a wise choice or not!
My second, and current, Big Dream was to create and run my own Bed & Breakfast – despite having no experience of the hospitality world, either. Finding a near-ruin of a house in a little-known French town, enlisting the help of a couple of fantastic local builders, and working like a man possessed for ten months brought my greatest reward. Opening the doors to “Rue Galilee B&B” in June 2016 made my heart sing. Despite not speaking a word of French, I feel like I have come home.
Sara Verrall is an author who captivates readers with her warm and accessible writing style. Her books are drawn from her diverse life experiences, most notably moving “solo” to France, then helping enhance her newly-met boyfriend’s charming B&B. “Dream it, Do it …Why not?” was published in 2021, and other titles to follow will including tales from recent experiences in Mexico, and her successful recovery from a daunting health diagnosis. Search for her by name on Amazon, or visit her dedicated website.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, honest read, which offers a refreshing perspective on some of life’s questions, let Sara share some of her gently philosophical reflections with you.
After years at sea, returning to Helsingborg was a triumph in itself. Sailing the Hallberg-Rassy 42E S/Y Albatross through challenges no guidebook could cover became a true testament to resilience and the power of chasing a dream.
Tom Cunliffe is a renowned sailing author and broadcaster, best known for the Shell Channel Pilot and the BBC series The Boats that Built Britain.
From ocean adventures to life in rural France, the blog shares behind-the-scenes moments, lessons learned, and reflections on chasing big dreams. Dive into real stories that might just inspire your next step.
