Schurmann Family

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Schurmann Family

The Schurmann Family are the first Brazilian family to circumnavigate the world on a sailboat and the only Brazilian family to have done it twice. A household name in Brazil, the Schurmann Family has been active around the world through their online school program, as well as their films and TV programs.

In 1984 Vilfredo, Heloisa and their children left their home, their work and school and set off from Florianópolis, the capital city of the State of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, to pursue their dream: circumnavigate the world on a sailboat. Their children, Pierre, David and Wilhelm, were 15, 10 and 7 years old, respectively. On this first adventure, the Schürmann Family spent 10 years at sea. They sailed around the world and came in contact with exotic peoples and amazing cultures. Their children grew up on board the yacht. And the family had the privilege of sharing each and every moment of the greatest of the adventures: life.

In 1997 the Schürmann Family began their second great adventure Magellan Global Adventure. The goal was to retrace the route sailed by Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet, the first complete circumnavigation of the planet. For this adventure, apart from the parents only their son David Schurmann and Kat, their 5-year-old daughter went along. Magellan Global Adventure was followed by more than 1,5 million people, from 44 countries. Every month the adventure’s filmed reports, broadcast internationally, had an average of 40 million television viewers in Brazil and many more around the world.

After 30 months, the Schürmanns' yacht returned to Brazil. And they docked at the same day (April 22, 2000) when and in the same harbor where Brazil had been discovered 500 years before. It has been 20 years of adventure. With a lot of work, discipline and planning, the Schürmann Family made their dreams come true. Not only they are the first Brazilian family to circumnavigate the world, they are also the only Brazilians to have done it twice. But the Schürmann Family does not linger on the glory of the past. The soul and love for adventures bring new and more challenging dreams. The next adventure is due to start in 2008.

In Vilfredo’s definition, “the bond that keeps our family so united is that we were, are and will be dreamers. Forever.”

The Family members are: Vilfredo, Heloisa, Pierre, David, Wilhelm and Kat Schürmann (Kat was adopted by the family in 1995, and deceased in 2006, she was HIV Positive since birth).

They have released 4 best sellers in Brazil and one box office hit documentary film:

[edit] Books

Em Busca do Sonho (2006) not yet translated
Momentos De uma Aventura (2001) portuguese/english
Um Mundo de Aventuras (2002) not yet translated
10 Anos No Mar (1995)

[edit] Films & TV

O Mundo em Duas Voltas (The World Twice Around or The World in Two Round Trips) 2007 (Film)
Em Busca do Sonho (Film)
Magellan Global Adventure (TV Series)
Schurmann Family 20 years (TV Series)