About 59º North Sailing
Who we are
Andy Schell & Mia Karlsson founded 59º North in 2015 with a simple mission — “Sharing the wisdom of the high seas with those wise enough to seek it out.” Since then, we’ve sailed over 100,000 miles with nearly 1,000 crew from all walks of life. 2025 marks our 11th full season of offshore passages for paying crew.
The business took its current form in 2019, when we added our second boat, the Swan 59 ICEBEAR (now replaced by our Farr 65 FALKEN). Around that time, August Sandberg joined the team to skipper ISBJØRN, our Swan 48. Andy, Mia & August — the ‘Admiralty’ — now make up the core of 59º North.
Our focus remains ocean sailing on our two boats — ISBJØRN (Swan 48) and FALKEN (Farr 65) — plus select chartered race boats with pro skipper Nikki Henderson. We sail worldwide, offering a range of experiences for every sailor.
We’re not a formal school; we teach seamanship through real-world experience. Inclusivity is central to our mission — we run all-female passages, ensure at least two women per crew, and strive for a 50/50 gender balance across staff and sailors.
Beyond sailing, we share knowledge through The Quarterdeck (our online platform), three podcasts, magazine articles, and hands-on workshops in Celestial Navigation, Weather Routing, and Offshore Prep.
Named after the latitude of Stockholm, where Andy & Mia live on a small farm, 59º North began as their passion project and has grown into a global team of 12+, most of whom work directly in the business — from admin and media to boat maintenance and passage planning.
Get to know The boats we sail
Farr 65
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FALKEN
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FALKEN is a 65-foot Bruce Farr-designed racing yacht, built in 1999 for a round-the-world amateur race. After the race, she was used for sail training before being purchased and refitted in 2022 for offshore sailing and crew comfort. The refit included a new Lithionics battery system and redesigned interior for a 10-person crew. More details and media at 59-north.com/falken.
S&S Swan 48
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ISBJØRN
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ISBJØRN, hull #002 of 46 Swan 48s built by Nautor of Finland, was launched in 1971 as WARBABY. Originally owned by Warren Browne, she was seized by the USCG in the early 1970s and later served 20 years at the US Naval Academy as INSURGENTE. After a major refit as PATRIOT with the Annapolis School of Seamanship, she raced again in 2012 and was acquired by her current owners in 2015. The Swan 48 is renowned for its safety and classic design, excelling in both racing and cruising.
OE 36
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SPICA
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SPICA is Mia & Andy’s family boat in Sweden, a classic Olle Enderlein 36 (OE 36), hull #4 and the first built in Sweden. Previously, they owned ARCTURUS (Allied Seabreeze yawl) and a Norlin 34, both sailed extensively. Named after the navigational star Spica, the OE 36 features a major refit with a rebuilt interior, new teak deck, and updated systems. At 36 feet, she’s ideal for the Stockholm Archipelago and capable of longer Baltic or ocean passages.
Swan 70
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ADRIENNE II
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ADRIENNE II is a modified Swan 651, lengthened to 70 feet with an extended transom, upgraded fin keel, carbon-fiber rig, and a Hallberg-Rassy-style glass windshield. Chartered by 59º North from owner Gurra Krantz (noted for the TV show Över Atlanten), she will be used for trans-Atlantic voyages in 2025. Only 19 Swan 651s were built (1982–1991) as successors to the S&S Swan 65, offering more interior space and family cruising features. More info and photos: 59-north.com/swan-70.
Swan 59
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ICEBEAR
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TL;DR: After nearly four years and 42,000+ miles, ICEBEAR, a 1986 Swan 59 offshore sailing yacht, has left the 59º North fleet. Originally purchased in 2019, ICEBEAR underwent extensive upgrades and is now one of the best-equipped Swan 59s. The boat has a unique history, including a modified builder’s plaque and previous Swedish ownership.
The sailing experience of a lifetime
Join us for an unforgettable offshore sailing adventure as a paying crew member on our exceptional yachts. We provide hands-on seamanship training through real-world experiences that simply can't be replicated in a classroom.
Podcasts we produce
The Quarterdeck
SEA·M’N·SHIP /ˈsēmənˌSHip/: “The skill in, and knowledge of the work of navigating, maintaining, and operating a vessel.”
