Closing the Round-the-World Circle:Pirate infested Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and the Home Stretch (Seven Seas Adventures Book 7)

The "Seven Seas Adventures Series” is based on the colour paper edition of "9 Years on the 7 Seas with S/Y Nor Siglar", also published as a text-only Kindle version by the same name. Each of the 7 colour books corresponds to the 7 parts in the printed edition.
During the last six months of our 9-year bluewater adventure, we encounter some of the toughest and most dangerous challenges of our entire voyage, testing our endurance to its absolute limit, while at the same time experiencing exhilarating highs. Come with us as we are guided by the stars across the normally benign Indian Ocean. Feel our sheer terror getting caught in a gigantic fish net in a black and stormy night, the most dangerous and life-threatening episode of our entire voyage, and live through our frantic struggle trying to cut ourselves lose. Come with us through the pirate infested waters of the Gulf of Aden along the coasts of prosperous Oman, impoverished Yemen and war torn Somalia. Nerves are on edge when a catamaran sailing alone ahead of us is attacked and boarded. Spooked, feeling there is safety in numbers, we join a flotilla and sail non-stop through the "Gate of Tears" on the Horn of Africa, into the dreaded Red Sea to the poor and destitute countries of Eritrea and Sudan. Explore with us the mysteries of the Arab world with its golden mosques and pencil thin minarets, muezzins calling to prayer, macho men in long, bright white dishdasha robes, veiled women in flowing, black abayas huddled in groups, camel crossings, souks overflowing with exotic herbs and spices, fragrant perfumes and gold, frankincense and myrrh of Biblical times. We dress as the locals, tour the desert with armed guards, visit girl’s schools and drink sweet tea with qat-chewing locals. In Eritrea, we meet the descendents of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, a most beautiful, hospitable and friendly people. We partake in traditional coffee ceremonies and sample local specialties in humble one-room huts. In Sudan, we explore the many beautiful and sheltered desert anchorages, witness poverty beyond belief, meet men who express “many wives, many problems” and visit the last slave trading post in the world. Then, it’s off to Egypt with its impressive pyramids, ancient sites in Valley of the Kings and Luxor and finally, to the northern part of the Red Sea, known for its strong, northerly winds that are considered a nightmare for sailors. We battle our way to the safety of the Suez Canal where infamous pilots nag us for baksheesh, bribes and such. So it is a great relief to reach Israel, where we cross our course from four years prior and can call ourselves Circumnavigators. We receive a hero’s welcome and even meet Shimon Peres. We don’t linger long, for now we are anxious to get home and take the fast track through the Mediterranean where we have been twice before. At the Strait of Gibraltar, we point our bow north to finish in Norway instead of Vancouver as it would require a third Atlantic crossing and take much longer. We luck out with excellent conditions and cover 2000 nautical miles in two months, arriving in Halden, Anne’s hometown, six years after we were there the first time and nine years after setting out from Vancouver. A big flotilla escorts us into the harbour, where Anne's 95-year old mother heads a lively welcoming party complete with journalists and photographers. We can’t believe we did it!
With this, the last book in the “Seven Seas Adventures Series”, our 9-year once-in-a-lifetime adventure is over. After having logged 56,000 nautical miles under our keel (twice around the world at equator), and visited 76 countries and island nations, we are ready to become landlubbers again. Nor Siglar, our trusted and loyal vessel, our beloved floating home for 15 years, is safely moored in Sagesund outside Martin’s childhood home on the south coast of Norway, while the Skipper and First Mate are back in Vancouver getting reacquainted with life on terra firma