About us
Who we are
Mia & I 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 collectively sailed over 170,000 miles with over 1,000 crew from all walks of life. 2026 marks our 12th 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. Myself, 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 skippers and the occasional one-off adventure. 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 Mia & I live in a small town a few miles from our family boat SPICA, 59º North began as our 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.
Hold Fast! | Andy Schell
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
The boats we sail
Farr 65
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FALKEN
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FALKEN is ideally set up for long-distance offshore sailing. We fully rebuilt the boat in 2022 to our exacting specifications and with the help of legendary yacht designer Bob Perry. She's comfortable belowdecks and each crew has their own dedicated sea berth & gear locker. On deck she has a huge cockpit which easily seats 10 people for our daily meals offshore, and allows for plenty of room to move about when handling lines and trimming sails. She's also easy to maintain, fast and fun to sail! FALKEN sails with 8 crew plus a Skipper & Mate and the occasional apprentice.
S&S Swan 48
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ISBJØRN
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ISBJØRN is the "OG" 59º North boat, the classic S&S Swan 48 that we started the business with back in 2015. She's considered an all-time great ocean cruising boat - built like a tank in Finland to the highest standards and with a modern but conservative hull shape making for fast & comfortable passages offshore in any weather. ISBJØRN sails with 5 crew plus a Skipper, and each person has their own dedicated sea berth & storage locker.
Schooner
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WOODWIND
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WOODWIND & WOODWIND II are wood/epoxy staysail schooners built in the 1990s for Annapolis daysail charters. In October 2025, 59º North Sailing acquired them, and now offers select passages and races, continuing their rich family and sailing legacy on the Bay.
OE 36
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SPICA
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SPICA is my (Andy, writing this!) and Mia's family boat here in Sweden. Well, actually it's Axel's boat, our six-year-old! It's a classic Olle Enderlein 36, built in Sweden in 1971, and very much a "mini" ISBJØRN, both in underwater hull shape, deck layout and interior style and arrangement. When you sail on SPICA you will be joining our family's summer home here in Sweden. When we have crew onboard, we sail with 3 plus me (Andy!) as skipper.
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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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.”
